MONDAY, 11.00AM:
PETRUS PADI narrowly beat George Mbatha by a unanimous judges points decision in their catchweight fight at Orange Farm on Saturday. The judges awarded Padi two more points on average than his opponent, in a closely contested game.
Mbatha’s disappointed manager, Jeff Ellis, said it was only through Padi’s suberb fitness that he managed the win, as Mbatha had put on the pressure from the third round. The six-round bout was somewhat marred by the setting sun, which blinded both fighters, and forced the match into the only shaded corner of the ring.
Padi’s manager Nick Durandt said he had encouraged his fighter to use the shade. “I changed tactics as soon as I realised the disadvantage caused by the sun.”
Padi was cut in two places above his eyes, and got a split lip during the fight, but persevered to a win.
SPORT BRIEFS
CHRISTO’S CRISIS SOUTH AFRICAN tennis player Christo van Rensburg needs to find a ranked doubles partner within the next 24 hours to qualify for the 1997 Wimbledon tournament which starts next Monday. His scheduled partner American Jared Palmer had to withdraw due to a hamstring injury.
Van Rensburg will also be coaching the world second-seed Michael Chang on grasscourts this season.
EUROPEAN HOCKEY TOUR SOUTH AFRICA drew 2-2 against England in Amsterdam on Sunday, in the last match of their five-match European Tour. The match was a case of extremes — the first South African goal came in the second minute by Craig Fulton, and the lead was held until late into the second half, when England equalised, and then moved ahead. In a tense finish, Greg Nicol netted the last goal for South Africa in the last minute.
HEAVY RETURNS HEAVYWEIGHT Johnny du Plooy stormed back into the boxing scene when he dropped Benjamin Manyube in just over one round in their bout in Durban on Sunday. The former world champion weighed in at 108,5kg, more than 10kg heavier than Manyube. The referee stopped the match early in the second round, when Manyube was down against the ropes, with no prospect of getting back on his feet.