Tigress, Smash light up ring with masterful show

02 July 2018 - 09:47
By Bongani Magasela
Ellen Simwaka puts Smangele Hadebe under pressure on her way to winning their WBF fight via stoppage   on Saturday.
Image: SUPPLIED Ellen Simwaka puts Smangele Hadebe under pressure on her way to winning their WBF fight via stoppage on Saturday.

Ellen "Tigress" Simwaka and Smangele "Smash" Hadebe could potentially be nominated for the next Boxing SA female fight of the year.

Their bout - their third - was part of the entertaining eight-bout card of Boxing 5 at the Turffontein Racecourse Hall on Saturday.

Simwaka, from Malawi, is showing refinement since joining trainer Rocky Weinstein in Edenvale.

Hadebe is trained by Themba Zulu in Springs. They showed clear intentions to claim the vacant WBF International bantamweight title as they tore into each other with zeal from the first round.

The bigger and well defined Simwaka is said to have stuck to Weinstein's instructions while Hadebe blundered by getting drawn into a slugfest when she is a skilful boxer.

She got drilled with power shots and referee Phumeza Zinakile had to stop the fight in the seventh round.

Meanwhile, Ludumo "9mm" Lamati had to dig deep to show his superior skills against Saidi Chimo. But it was unsportsmanlike of the Tanzanian to fake injury to his arm when he'd actually been saved by the bell in Round 5.