Outright owner of a South African boxing belt Jackson ‘M3’ Chauke has admitted that Mdantsane boxer Thembelani Nxoshe gave him a tough fight on his way to retaining his national flyweight title.
Chauke from Tembisa in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, registered his fifth successful defence of his SA title when he beat Nxoshe by a majority decision at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday afternoon.
Two judges Siphiwo Mbini and Lulama Mtya scored the bout 112-114 and 111-115 respectively for Chauke while Sithembele Tom’s score card read 113-113.
“It was a tough fight. I haven’t fought in almost a year. Nxoshe is a veteran, he’s a tough guy, he’s a spoiler. I wanted to catch him with some good punches, but I couldn’t get him. He didn’t let me do what I was supposed to do. He gave me a good fight,” Chauke said.
Interestingly, the 38-year-old Chauke made all his five successful defences against Eastern Cape boxers. He defeated Sihle Jelwana, Luyanda Ntwanambe, Sinethemba Kotana and Nxoshe while he drew with Phumelela Cafu.