A boxing career, which started with a win 16 years ago ended with victory as Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni defeated Chumani ‘AK 47’ Tunzi at the Jan Smuts Stadium in KuGompo City on Saturday evening.
Fighting against an opponent, who looked like he was out to spoil everything for him, Ndongeni worked very hard and finished the fight in the seventh round.
In almost two decades of trading blows with opponents, Ndongeni retired after winning 34 times with 20 knockouts and eight losses.
In the main bout of the evening, Nhlanhla ‘Mount Kilimanjaro’ Tyirha became the new International Boxing Organisation (IBO) mini-flyweight champion following a technical decision win over Nhlakanipho ‘GTI’ Kunene.
Tyirha, who fought with a big cut above his right eye, was on top of his game. But blood coming out of the cut forced the ringside doctor to advise fight referee Allen Matakane to stop the proceedings. The fight was then referred to the three judges’ scorecards, which confirmed that Tyirha had won the vacant title.
Meanwhile, former IBO female champion Sharadene Fortuin annexed the World Boxing Council (WBC) International bantamweight title after she outpointed Zambian Alice Mbewe. Fortuin from Seymour in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality added the title to her South African crown.
In another fight, Siseko Teyise laboured to a unanimous decision victory over Filipino opponent Neel Jacamos in a vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth junior-flyweight title contest. And after the fight, Teyisi admitted that Jacamos was a very difficult opponent.
Lindelani Sibisi returned to KuGompo City just a year after he won the South African featherweight title. And he successfully defended his crown when he defeated challenger Bongani Fule by a unanimous decision.
Even though his performance was not as high as it was when he dethroned Zolisa Batyi in May last year, Sibisi toyed with Fule throughout the fight. It was then no wonder that Sithembele Tom (118-110), Mandisa Puzi (118-110) and Ben Ncapai (117-111) nodded in agreement saying Sibisi had retained his title.
