Gwendolyn O’Neil said at the pre-fight medical examination before taking on Laila Ali in the world super-middleweight title bout at Emperors Palace on Saturday night that ”Jesus will look after me in the ring”.
And it seemed that divine providence indeed came to the rescue of the ageing 35 year-old O’Neil in what was truly a farcical mismatch lasting only 56 seconds.
Nelson Mandela and cricketer Makhanya Ntini were in the audience.
With ringside seats going at R750, patrons forked out about R14 a second to see the main bout.
”I blinked for a brief moment during the fight when something seemed to get into my eye and cause me a moment of concern,” said the 29-year-old Ali after stretching her unbeaten record to 24 fights in which only three have gone the distance.
Ali also said that it would probably be her last fight for some while as she intended having her first baby.
”I was out to make it quicker than the last time when I knocked her out in the third round,” said Ali, ”but I did not expect it to be this quick”. – Sapa