Congolese boxer Jose Kadima didn’t raise a sweat when he stopped Ugandan opponent Herbert Matovu in the first round at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday evening.
The unbeaten Kadima from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of (DRC) went straight to Matovu soon after the bell had rung signalling the beginning of the first round. Kadima only took 36 seconds to finish the fight and in the process won the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Africa heavyweight title.
Following the win, Kadima improved his record to nine wins with seven knockouts while Matovu dropped to nine victories, eight stoppages and two defeats. Interestingly, Matovu’s losses came via knockouts.
In the same bill, Zimbabwean boxer Monica Mkandla maintained her unbeaten record as she was on top of her game when she put up a polished performance against Simamkele Tutsheni in a catchweight bout. In a one-sided fight, Mkandla toyed with Tutsheni, landing blows at will.
Tutsheni took a serious beating in the fifth round and she was even decked. A left hook, which found its intended target towards the end of the sixth round sent Tutsheni to the canvas as Makandla recorded her second knockout win in 10 victories.
In the other fight, lanky Ethan Peters continued with his impressive run as he stopped Andre Bruwer in the second round to make three wins in three fights. All his three victories came from knockouts.
Prichard Dube from Zimbabwe handed Mdantsane-born boxer Sanele Sogcwayi his first professional loss after he won by a majority decision during their featherweight bout.
And Juan Alberts also lost for the first time in his career as he suffered a sixth round technical knockout loss to Antwerp-based Jack Mulowayi Nsendula, who was born in the DRC. Fight referee Thabo Spampool as a bloodied Alberts had a deep cut above his left eye.
