LERATO DLAMINI SHOCKS EX-CHAMP SIMPIWE VETYEKA 

Lerato Dlamini W10 Simpiwe Vetyeka… Former world featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka was shocked by unheralded Lerato Dlamini, who won by majority decision. Few gave Dlamini (10-1) much chance against the vastly more experienced Vetkea (29-4). However, the younger Dlamini produced a brave, bustling performance against a man who had clearly lost his edge. Vetyeka’s 18 months of inactivity showed as he was repeatedly beaten to the punch. In his prime, he was a devilishly hard man to beat, but Dlamini showed him little respect as he advanced on him and unloaded at will. There were few highlights, but ultimately Dlamini’s better work rate served him well and he was announced the winner by majority decision: 97-93, 95-94 and 95-95.

Azinga Fuzile TKO3 Tshifhiwa Munyai … On the same South African card, featherweight Azinga Fuzile (9-0) destroyed Tshifhiwa Munyai (28-5-1) in the third round at Emperors Palace. Fuzile will face Lerato Dlamini next. No one quite knew how the South African featherweight champion would fare against experienced Tshifhiwa Munyai, but minutes into the first round it was glaringly obvious as he began throwing punches with bad intentions.

When it was over, in the third round, the Eastern Cape schoolboy had sent Munyai to the canvas four times, his relentless left hand rocking Munyai, who had no answer to the furious barrage.

Fuzile’s performance drew gasps from the audience, swept up by the exciting, explosive nature of the contest. Fighting with a swagger, Fuzile walked his man down, dismissing his attack with the confidence of a boxer who has no fear.

He dropped the bomb twice in the second round, Munyai shaking his head in shock and disbelief at the petulance of the youngster. But there was more to come in the third as Munyai was twice sent sprawling. Aware that he had no chance, he waved his arm in surrender while on the canvas, confirming the stunning arrival of Fuzile, who will doubtless start as favorite for the Super Four final, to be staged in March.

Ryno Liebenberg (18-5) vowed to hang up his gloves if he lost to Patrick Mukala (9-1). But the crowd-pleasing boxer will be around for a little while longer after emerging the winner in an absorbing ten-rounder that reflected well on both fighters. Liebenberg showed his smarts against a determined youngster, while Mukala produced confident bursts, but ultimately paid for his inexperience. The Congolese boxer showed clever angles and had a handy uppercut, but his defense let him down as Liebenberg nailed him at will.

Mukala was very effective with short shots inside, but was unable to hurt Liebenberg, who was used to hanging tough with bigger bangers at light-heavyweight.

Mukala wasn’t daunted by the challenge and for big chunks of the bout fought on even terms, not least in the third when his small army of fans chanted “Bomaye”, the dark slogan famously heard at the “Rumble in the Jungle”.

Both were happy to stand and trade, much to the delight of the audience, but Liebenberg always just had the edge. Many of the rounds produced exciting slugfests, the best of them in the 10th when the pair somehow summoned the strength to end matters with a wild salvo packed with action and heavy shots. Cards were 96-94, 98-92, 97-93.