DEON POTGIETER, Cape Town | Wednesday 11.35am.
HENRY Akinwande, the number one contender for the World Boxing Association heavyweight world title, knocked out unknown Kenyan heavyweight Chris Serengo in just over two minutes on in a virtually secret bout Tuesday night.
But, hot on the heels of this weekend’s controversial points decision against Baby Jake Matala, Akinwande’s first round win at the Velodrome in Cape Town .
Serengo has yet to win a fight and has a record of seven losses and one draw — to Akinwande’s 36 fights, including 22 knock-outs.
It was a ludicrous match-up and was put on purely for the benefit of Eurosport television.
What’s more, the SA national boxing commission says they knew nothing of the bout. The reason for keeping the bout a secret by the promoters makes little sense, as there would have been much public interest.
However, Don King, Akinwande’s promoter, is putting pressure on the WBA to force Lennox Lewis to sign to defend against Akinwande before he is removed from the number one spot at the end of the month. John Ruiz will become the new number one in March and is earmarked to face Evander Holyfield later in the year.
The heavyweight contenders arrival has brought to light a number of questions surrounding the sanctioning procedure of the beleaguered national boxing commission.
A reliable source close to the Western Cape boxing commission, which sanctioned the bout under instruction of the national boxing commission, said that the provincial commission was only being paid R10000 to do so, instead of the usual fee of 7% of the purses.
A fighter of Akinwande’s ranking would definitely receive well over R600000.
Additionally, there are concerns over whether a sufficient medical was done on the combatants. Akinwande was recently diagnosed with hepatitis B and it’s not known whether he still suffers from the sickness.