No one is satisfied with Phaphama Rhonorhono’s win more than his trainer Madoda ‘One More Time’ Dyonase as the young lad’s victory ended a long title drought at their gym in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
With just four fights under his belt before Friday’s fight, Rhonorhono shocked Western Cape boxing followers when he stopped favourite Wassim Chellan in the second round to win the vacant South African welterweight title at the Wynberg Military base in Cape Town.
And Rhonorhono’s victory ended a 10-year drought as Dyonase’s gym last had an SA champion when retired Simphiwe Konkco was the national minimumweight titlist in 2015.
“The boss is back. The last time I had an SA champion was in 2015 with Konkco. Remember, I won the SA, WBA Pan-African and IBO Intercontinental titles with Konkco. I still remember guiding Konkco to a loss against Hekkie Budler in an IBO strawweight title at the Emperors Palace,” Dyonase said.
Dyonase added: “Winning the SA title is a great achievement for the OR Tambo region. We worked very hard to have five fights and winning all of them by stoppages. We have only fought seven rounds in the professional ranks.”
According to Dyonase, Rhonorhono’s win was long time considering that he was an exceptional boxer even at amateur level.
“Rhonorhono beat everyone in the Eastern Cape while he was still an amateur boxer. People are yet to see the best of Rhonorhono,” Dyonase concluded. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
