It was a fight which boxing followers, who converged at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday evening, enjoyed, as Charlton Malajika defeated Filipino opponent RV Deniega.
Even the three judges nodded in agreement signalling that Malajika had done enough to win the vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Youth bantamweight title. Tony Nyangiwe scored the fight 98-92 with his colleagues Pumeza Zinakile and John Shipanuka scoring it 100-90 on their scorecards.
Malajika dominated from the first bell until the last gong as he caught Deniega with very powerful blows. And Malajika thought he had dropped Deniega in the eighth round, only for fight referee Deon Dwarte to think otherwise.
On the other hand, Zimbabwean Beaven Sibanda won the vacant IBF International strawweight title after he stopped Filipino boxer Richard Garde in the fifth round.
Sibanda from Harare dropped Garde twice before fight referee Riaan Janse van Rensburg waved the bout off in one minute and a second.
Meanwhile, DonJuan van Heerden is the new African Boxing Union (ABU) middleweight champion after Dean Promnick failed to come out from his corner before the beginning of the 10th round.
Other results:
Bryan Thysse drew with Jackson Kaptein
Tuvia Wewege defeated Jonathan Sam via a unanimous decision
Jarred Hensberg beat Ntsako Miyambo by a fourth round knockout
Seth van Asweegen stopped Sanele Mbatha in the third round
