Ndongeni shines bright at ESPN Africa Boxing 23

South African Xolisani Ndongeni (31-2-0) shone bright in the main event of ESPN Africa Boxing 23 after a seventh round KO victory over Thailand’s Apinun Khongsong (20-3-0) in their International Junior Welterweight Bout in South Africa on Thursday 17 November.

The South African was technically very good on the night and stuck to a plan in order to earn the 31st win of his career. He worked his jab superbly, both to the body and the head of his opponent, peppering the midriff more often than not.

This led to Khongsong dropping his guard and Ndongeni took full advantage in the fourth round when a right hand sent the man from Thailand to the deck. The latter answered the count but was lucky to escape the round.

Ndongeni persisted with his plan and in the sixth round Khongsong was on the canvas twice after some super combinations from the South African, the overhand right doing the damage on both occasions.

Finally, two minutes and six seconds into the seventh round, after being down for the fourth time, Khongsong failed to answer the count after being knocked down by another right hand.

Speaking after the fight, Ndongeni explained he had a plan for their opponent on the night. He was also very thankful for the opportunity and demanded a title shot next.

“Thank you to Durban and to ESPN for the opportunity,” said Ndongeni.

“We have worked every day. I was tired but I kept pushing. The knockout is something we planned. He was a tough opponent. I knew I had to box him, he was very strong. I proved I can box when I have to, I can fight when I have to. I need a title on my waist.”

Lamati says ‘watch this f*#king space’ after KO win

The co-main event saw South Africa’s Ludumo Lamati (21-0-1) KO the Philippines’ Mark Anthony Geraldo (38-12-3) two minutes and nine seconds in round four of their International Featherweight Bout.

It was a cagey first round with both boxers just feeling each other out. The second round, though, saw the South African working well behind his jab and landing some straight rights.

It was more of the same in the third as Lamati picked up the pace and it paid dividends in the fourth. A thunderous right hand to the body of Geraldo saw the Philippine drop to the deck and fail to answer the count.

Speaking after the fight, Lamati promised some big things for next year: “It feels really great to win. There is no me without the team. Watch this f*#king space! 2023 watch this f*#king space!”

Close call in Basheel’s split decision win

The main card opened with possibly the fight of the night as Malawi’s Anisha Basheel (11-8-0) earned a split decision win (56-57, 58-56, 59-55) over Zimbabwe’s Chiedza Homakoma (6-4-2) in their International Female Lightweight Bout over six rounds.

Homakoma, though, started the better of the two fighters and landed the cleaner shots with her left-hook and overhand right dominating the first two rounds.

The contest turned in the third round when a devastating overhand right from Basheel sent the Zimbabwean tumbling to the canvass. Homakoma got back to her feet, but was saved by the bell as the round ended with her taking numerous shots to the head.

Rounds four through six saw both boxers stand toe-to-toe in the centre of the ring as they dished out a slugfest, but Basheel landed the more telling blows to earn the 11th win of her career.

Van Heerden puts on impressive boxing display

The second bout on the main card saw South African Donjuan Van Heerden (5-1-0) put on an impressive boxing display which saw him beat Congo’s Giresse Wingui (2-2-0) via a unanimous decision win (59-56, 59-55, 59-56) in their International Middleweight Bout over six rounds.

The South African looked good from the opening bell and found his rhythm early on. Wingui struggled to answer Van Heerden’s combinations and slick footwork.

Van Heerden won the first three rounds comfortably, but the man from Congo mounted a bit of a fight back in the last three and had Van Heerden on the ropes in the sixth round. In the end, the South African just landed too many shots as he scored at will the entire fight.

Truter earns TKO win after cut eye

The third bout on the main card saw Tristan Truter (11-3-0) earn a fourth round TKO win over Andile Mntungwa (6-6-1) in their Super Middleweight Bout.

The fight was a severely contested affair, but a cut suffered to the top of the left eye of Mntungwa in the first round was the difference with the doctor declaring him not able to continue two minutes and 20 seconds into round four.

The fight was tight from the start and neither boxer had a clear edge although Truter landed the more telling blows, especially in the first with a great right-hook splitting his opponents eyebrow.

The win is Truter’s 11th of his professional career as he looks onwards and upwards.

Mzimela claims KZN Junior Featherweight title

The fourth bout on the main card saw Mduduzi Mzimela (6-0-0) claim the KZN Junior Featherweight title with a split decision win (96-93, 94-95, 96-93) over Sanele Maduna (4-2-2) in their ten-round fight.

The pattern of the fight emerged early on as Mzimela pushed forward, swinging aggressively but Maduna kept his composure and picked his shots almost at will. Maduna used his stinging straight to score and was counter punching really well, tagging Mzimela every time he threw his wild punches.

To his credit, the newly crowned champion kept pushing forward and kept his work-rate high which made a big impact on the judges.

The final round was the telling one with Mzimela coming out firing, throwing as many punches as he could and landing some as well. This saw Maduna continuously hold him, and he was eventually deducted a point which made all the difference on the scorecards.

Main Card results:

Basheel wins by split decision over Homakoma (56-57, 58-56, 59-55)

Van Heerden wins by unanimous decision over Wingui (59-56, 59-55, 59-56)

Truter wins by TKO over Mntungwa (2 min, 20 secs in round 4)

Mzimela wins by split decision over Maduna (96-93, 94-95, 96-93)

Lamati wins by KO over Geraldo (2 mins, 9 secs in round 4)

Ndongeni wins by KO over Khongsong (2 min, 6 secs in round 7)