Chauke retains SA title with a draw

Jackson Chauke retained the South African flyweight title on a majority 12-round draw against Phumelela Cafu in an excellent toe-to-toe encounter at the Premier Hotel and International Convention Centre in East London on Sunday afternoon.

The scores were 115-113 for Cafu and 114-114 twice for Chauke, which favoured the home fighter as the champion landed most of the cleaner punches throughout the fight.

It was announced from the ring that Cafu, 23, was the new champion and he was presented with the South African championship belt.

However, this was incorrect as with a majority draw Chauke, 36, retains the title.

The sad part of the whole affair was that none of the people or officials at ringside picked up the incorrect decision and that Cafu, who put up an excellent performance, will wake up on Monday morning and find out that he was no longer the champion.

The time has come to reintroduce training and test sessions for all boxing officials as to what is expected of them and their knowledge of the South African Boxing Act and Regulations.

There was little in it through the first four rounds, with Chauke the vastly more experienced fighter, doing enough to shade rounds five, six and seven with his more accurate punches and slippery defence.

The challenger did enough to shade some of the later rounds but this was not enough to be given the decision on one of the cards.

However, despite the scoring favouring Cafu, he is an excellent prospect and will go on to win a championship.

Chauke took his record to 20 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws with 14 wins inside the distance and Cafu finished with a record of 4-0-3: 4.

UNDERCARD

Strawweight – Sipelele Myeza W 6 Ndazezintle Plaatjies.

Junior featherweight – Sonwabile Marenene W tko 1 Ayabonga Cekiso.

Junior bantamweight – Bongani Nocele W tko 5 Mawethu Limo.

Featherweight – Sange Ngoza W 6 Bonwabile Mnyunulu.