Mkhize loses unbeaten record

By Ron Jackson

In a junior flyweight clash, Mpho Sefaro (pictured) outboxed the popular and previously unbeaten Percy Mkhize, to win on a six round split decision at the Blairgowrie Recreation Centre in Randburg on Sunday afternoon. The shorter Mkhize (50.18kg) from the Alan Toweel gym made a good star and possibly shaded the first two rounds. Mkhize was dropped to his knees with a short right for a count from referee Ben Ncapai in the third round. He then forgot about his basic boxing skills and started throwing wild left and rights which went over the head of Sefaro most of the time. The scores were 58-55 and 57-56 for Seforo and 57-56 for Mkhize. Seforo (48.22kg) from the Dida Gym improved his record to 3-0, 2 KOs and Mkhize’s record dropped 7-1, 3 KOs.

In a lightweight contest, the flashy Jeffrey Magagane (61.15kg) came back from a knockdown in the first round to outpoint Gift Bholo (61.40kg) over six rounds in an exciting but wild swinging affair. It was rather disturbing to note that the referee failed to send Bholo to the neutral corner after the knockdown. Magagane would be well advised to leave the flash and showboating alone and he will be a better fighter. The scores were 57-56 twice and 58-55 all in favour of Magagane.

Other results

Welterweight: Faraday Mukandile, w tko 1, Pierrott Kaniki; Featherweight: Bongani Bhuti w tko 3 Sifiso Hlongwane; Junior lightweight: Hloni Maboko, w pts 4, Onke Duku; Junior featherweight; Lemohang Mapitsi, W tko 3 Vusumzi Nyawuza; Junior middleweight: Christopher Munyai, w pts 6 Dennis Mbhati.

Sandile Xaka of Supreme Boxing Promotions and Alan Toweel must be congratulated on putting together an exciting afternoon’s boxing that had the crowd stamping their feet and shouting throughout. The facilities and organisation were also top class. The only disturbing note was that the show was held up for one hour waiting for the Boxing SA fight supervisor to arrive.