The main event at ESPN Africa Boxing 22 saw South African Sikho Nqothole (16-2-0) crowned the new WBO Global Junior Bantamweight champion after beating Filipino Denmark Quibido (12-1-1) via unanimous decision (120-106, 119-107, 120-106) over 12 rounds.
It was a cagey affair early on with both fighters trying to feel each other out. Nqothole, though, settled quickly and looked the more comfortable of the two as he worked behind his jab and landed some nice shots. In the fifth round, the contest swung massively in the South African’s favour when he knocked Quibido to the deck with a leading left-hook. The man from the Philippines quickly got up and finished the round, but the damage was done.
Nqothole moved into cruise-control after that, hitting and moving, scoring points almost at will. He capped off an impressive display by knocking his opponent down with a straight right in the 12th round. Quibido managed to finish the fight, but there was nothing he could do as Nqothole racked up the 16th win of his career while the loss for Quibido was his first.
MAKHENSE CROWNED NEW IBF AFRICA WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
The co-main event saw South African Jabulani Makhense (14-1-0) crowned the new IBF Africa Welterweight champion after beating Angolan Henriques Lando (7-4-0) via unanimous decision (118-110, 119-109, 117-111) over 12 rounds.
Makhense started strong and landed the cleaner shots in the opening rounds. The Angolan tried to pick up the tempo and kept pushing forward, hoping to disrupt the rhythm of the South African, but it was to no avail. Instead, Makhense looked comfortable moving around the ring as he landed blow after blow. Rounds nine through 12 saw both fighters tire, but neither was prepared to give an inch, which made for an entertaining spectacle as Makhense picked up the 14th victory of his professional career.
DEVASTING RIGHT EARNS MKANDLA WIN
The main card opened with an impressive display from Zimbabwean Monica Mkandla (4-0-0) who earned a unanimous decision win (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) over South African Sazisiwe Simon (2-1-0) in their international female Bantamweight fight over four rounds.
Mkandla set the trend in the opening seconds of the first round with a devasting straight right that saw Simon stumbling around the ring. The Zimbabwean kept up the pressure after that and comfortably won all four rounds to maintain her unbeaten record.
FOURIE WINS SLUGFEST
The second bout on the main card was a scintillating affair that saw Kaine Fourie (4-0-2) earn a unanimous decision win (59-52, 58-53, 57-55) over Sinethemba Blom (1-1-0) in their Lightweight contest over six rounds.
In what was arguably the fight of the night, both boxers left it all on the line in a slugfest that saw Fourie knock down Blom on the three separate occasions, which in the end was the difference between the two. The first knockdown came midway into the third round when a massive left-hook sent Blom to the canvas. The latter answered the count, but was on his behind again a minute later following a stinging straight right from Fourie. But again, Blom got to his feet and managed to make it to the end of the round.
In the fourth round, Fourie focused on the midriff of his opponent and delivered a thunderous left-hook to the body which saw Blom on the deck for the third time. Blom, though, had no quit and got to his feet once more. In fact, Blom finished the stronger of the two fighters and was unlucky not to knock Fourie out in the final round.
BAGWASI WITH TKO WIN
The third bout on the main card saw Botswana’s Kagiso Bagwasi (5-0-0) earn a third round TKO victory over South Africa’s Tshifhiwa Munyai (9-14-0) in their international Welterweight contest.
It was a comfortable win for Bagwasi who knocked Munyai down for the first time with a strong right-hand in the second round. The South African answered the count, but found himself on the canvas again in the third round after solid left to the head.
The man from Botswana piled on the pressure after that and delivered a powerful left-hook which sent Munyai tumbling to the ground in the third round. The referee quickly stepped in and called an end to the fight two minutes and 41 seconds into the round.
BALOYI EDGES NAIL-BITER
The fourth bout on the main card produced a nail-biting affair which saw South African Talent Baloyi (5-0-1) earn a majority decision win (76-76, 77-75, 77-75) over Botswana’s Kutlwano Ogaketse (7-3-1) in their international Lightweight contest over eight rounds.
It was hard to separate the two fighters on the night as they stood toe-to-toe and traded blows for eight fantastic rounds. Baloyi simply landed the cleaner of the shots to maintain his unbeaten record while Ogaketse was unlucky to suffer the third loss of his career.
UNDERCARD:
The only fight on the undercard saw Iviwe Mgema (5-3-1) claim a unanimous decision win (59-55, 59-55, 58-56) over Phumlani Maloni (7-5-1) in their mini flyweight bout over six rounds.
MAIN CARD RESULTS:
- Monica Mkandla wins by unanimous decision over Sazisiwe Simon (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
- Kaine Fourie wins by unanimous decision win over Sinethemba Blom (59-52, 58-53, 57-55)
- Kagiso Bagwasi wins by TKO over Tshifhiwa Munyai (2 min, 41 secs in round 3)
- Talent Baloyi wins by majority decision over Kutlwano Ogaketse (76-76, 75-77, 75-77)
- Jabulani Makhense wins by unanimous decision over Henriques Lando (118-110, 119-109, 117-111)
- Sikho Nqothole wins by unanimous decision over Denmark Quibido (120-106, 119-107, 120-106).
Undercard results:
- Iviwe Mgema wins by unanimous decision over Phumlani Maloni (59-55, 59-55, 58-56)