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With a passionate crowd cheering
on their local heroes, it turned
out to be “The night of the
underdogs” on Monday December 16
when Xaba Promotions staged a
World Boxing Federation (WBF)
Championship doubleheader in
East London, South Africa.
Thabiso Moorosi took control
from the start and dropped
reigning South African Champion
Mfundo Gwayana three times
before getting a technical
knockout victory in round four
to lift the vacant WBF
Intercontinental Light Flyweight
title.
Gwayana, who had won the S.A.
national title in his last bout,
was entering the fight as a
clear favorite on home turf, but
Moorosi didn’t pay any attention
to this and dominated his foe
thoroughly on his way to his
careers biggest triumph. Time of
stoppage was 1:49.
Coming in from his hometown of
Ficksburg to participate in his
first major title fight, the new
WBF champion improved his
professional ledger to 8-3-2
(6). 29-year-old Southpaw
Gwayana, a veteran of ten S.A.
title fights since turning pro
in 1999, falls to 17-7-3 (9).
In the evenings co-feature late
substitute Bulelani Nama was
awarded what many felt was an
undeserved split decision over
Onela Qongwana for the vacant
WBF Intercontinental
Bantamweight crown.
Nama accepted the fight with
just a few days notice, and put
on a very good performance under
the circumstances, so he should
be praised despite the
controversy surrounding the
result.
After twelve rounds of
entertaining boxing, judges Alan
Matakane and Ziya Vabaza scored
the fight for Nama 115-114 and
116-111, while Eddie Marshal had
Qongwana winning 116-112.
Most people at ringside felt
that Qongwana deserved the
victory, and it is the general
consensus that especially judge
Vabaza had a very bad night on
the job.
Never the less, Nama improved
his record to 12-11 (7), and
Qongwana drops to 10-2 (5).
Promoter Ayanda Matiti was
shocked at the result of the
fight, and plans to do a rematch
early next year.
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