THURSDAY, 12.30PM:
LEHLOHONOLO “Hands of Stone” Ledwaba must be tired of pushovers.
Ledwaba’s four defences of his South African junior featherweight title thus far have been entertaining and successful. And short.
On Wednesday night in Johannesburg, he knocked out Cape challenger Zukile Filani a minute and 12 seconds into the third round to retain the belt for a fourth time.
“I expected a tough fight and was surprised that Filani could not take punishment,” said Ledwaba after ending the bout by dropping Filani with a right hook to the ribs for a mandatory eight count. He staggered the challenger with another right and laid him out cold with the same hand before Filani’s corner threw in the towel.
SA middleweight champion Giovanni Pretorius will fight Argentinian Jorge Sclarandi at Morula Sun on Sunday afternoon.
Pretorius has a record of 23 wins, one loss and a draw, 20 wins by way of knockout. The Argentinian has a record of 21-11-1, with one stoppage, so punching power should not hold a threat to Pretorius. The South American has, however, never been on the canvas in his career.
After moving to the Harold Volbrecht stable, Pretorius says he is “Fit and ready to fight.”
SPORT BRIEFS
SMALL EYES ANOTHER RECORD
SOUTH Africa’s most-capped Test player, James Small has his sights on another South African rugby record. Small, who has played in 47 Tests to date, is only five tries shy of Danie Gerber’s SA first-class record of 158 tries. Small has scored 153 and, with plenty of Super-12 matches remaining, chances are the record will be his before the end of the tournament.
PHILLIPS TO NIGERIA
PREMIER Soccer League chief executive officer Trevor Phillips, whose second term of office ends in July, might say farewell to SA soccer. According to reports, Phillips is said to have been approached by the the Nigerian Football Association to establish a league similar to the South African PSL in that country.
U23s STILL WITH SASOL
SASOL and the South African Football Association have refuted allegations that Sasol has terminated its sponsorship of the national U23 soccer team due to coaching problems. “Sasol reaffirmed its commitment towards the Under-23 team and the development of football,” said Sasol MD Danie de Villiers.
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