Vuyani ”Beast” Bungu narrowly out-pointed Takalani ”Panther” Ndlovu over 12 energy-sapping rounds to win the vacant IBO featherweight title at Carnival City in Brakpan on Saturday night.
Bungu’s deserved win — his second against Ndlovu at the same venue — enabled him to scribble his name in the history books by becoming a two-times world champion.
The 37-year-old boxer from the fight-crazed Eastern Cape, who reigned for five years as the IBF junior featherweight champion, improved to 37 wins against four losses while Ndlovu, the current national champion, dropped to three losses from 24 contests.
The eagerly awaited encounter that topped the Golden Gloves ”Grandslam” tournament lived up to its midweek hype. The two gladiators thrilled fight fans throughout their affair.
It was a close fight to judge and could have gone either way. But judge Arthur Ellensohn of Germany scored it 115-114 for Bungu while Roy Francis from the United Kingdom saw it 116-114 to Ndlovu.
Sylvia Maphangule, who hails from the Limpopo province, gave Bungu the nod with 115-113.
The first half was so close that it was difficult to separate the winner from the loser. Ndlovu tried unsuccessfully to penetrate the tight defence of Bungu.
The newly crowned champion mounted his pressure in rounds, six, seven, eight and ten chasing Ndlovu around the ring and in the process throwing leather from all angles.
But only a few of those punches landed cleanly. Many of his punches were either parried or easily blocked by his opponent.
The best round for Bungu was the 10th where he mounted his attack while Ndlovu’s pace dropped. But still Ndlovu, who threw few punches, found the target.
Ndlovu seemed to have done well in rounds 11 and 12 where he finally managed to disorganise Bungu’s defence.
Isaac Hlatshwayo completely outclassed Sam Malinga in the junior welterweight bout earlier on.
Their rematch lived up to the midweek hype but Malinga, who had promised to avenge his points loss to Hltshwayo four years ago, left the Big Top Arena with his tail in between his legs.
The two superbly conditioned boxers fought a clean fight throughout but Hlatshwayo was in full control of the ring.
Punching with authority, Hlatshwayo, piled up points with his stabbing jab, which was followed by a variety of blows while Malinga’s punches were thrown out of desperation.
Hlatshwayo is the national lightweight champion. He is not even ranked in the welterweight class but his victory against Malinga was his second in the heavier division.
Hlatshwayo out-pointed national champion Lucky Lewele over 10 rounds at the same venue last year and he just toyed with Malinga and in fact he let him off the hook more than once.
Malinga, who was beaten to a pulp throughout the eight rounds, is the WBF junior welterweight holder. It is unclear what will happen to his world title.
Hlatshwayo, who retained his unblemished record, posted his 18th win in as many fights while Malinga suffered his third loss from 18 outings.
The fight was so one-sided in that all three judges scored it miles in favour of Hlatshwayo. The scorecard read 79-72, 78-74 and 79-73. — Sapa
Other results:
Flyweight (four rounds): Tshifhiwa Munyai beat Tladi Modibeli on points
Junior lightweight (six rounds): Johannes Botman beat Mpumelelo Mpendle on points
Super middleweight (four rounds): Daniel Bruwer beat Jerry Tlhoaele ko 1 (2 minutes 56 seconds)