Boxing trainer Alan Toweel believes that his boxer Tshifhiwa ‘Atomic Spider’ Munyai was a deserving winner during his fight against Aphiwe Mboyiya at the Steve Tshwete Banquet Hall in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, on Friday evening.
The 36-year-old Munyai from Makwarela in Limpopo retained his South African lightweight title via a split decision after Mboyiya had dropped him in the third round.
“I thought Munyai won it clear. He got dropped, fine. That was a lucky shot. I was comfortable going into the last two rounds. Munyai was ahead on points,” Toweel said.
The Johannesburg-based boxing trainer gave credit to Mboyiya, a former SA featherweight and junior-lightweight champion, for giving Munyai a run for his money.
“It was a very good fight. I give credit to Mboyiya for coming to fight, for giving us a good show. He is a good boxer. But Tshifhiwa’s composure, experience and hard work worked in his favour. When he got dropped, I wasn’t worried about that because he had trained so hard and had experience to get back on track again, which he did. It was a good, hard fight. I thought it was a comfortable win for us,” Toweel said.
This was Munyai’s third defence of the title he won when he defeated Siphosethu Mvula from Duncan Village in East London in March 2020. He defeated Khaya Busakwe and Sanele Msimang by stoppages last year.
