Mdantsane’s hard-punching Likho Sigaba preserved his national bantamweight title shot and Lwando Mgabi claimed the junior-bantamweight title with a lopsided victory in Cape Town at the weekend.
In Milnerton, Duncan Village boxer Mgabi hardly raised a sweat as he cruised to a points win over Sihle Jelwana to claim the vacant SA junior-bantamweight crown.
The battle of the Eastern Cape boxers did not live up to expectations as both fought as if they were in a sparring session.
However, the 22-year-old Mgabi fulfilled his childhood dream of winning the SA title before his 10th professional fight to follow in the footsteps of his former stablemate and role model, Azinga Fuzile, who achieved the feat in his fifth bout.
Mgabi prevailed with scores of 119-109, 120-108 and 118-110 to improve his unbeaten record to seven fights.
However, at the Whittlesea Multi Purpose Centre, it was bombs all the way when Sigaba and Aphiwe Rasmeni met again after their October clash.
The venue was filled to capacity with a partisan crowd and reigning SA bantamweight champion Landile Ngxeke, who also hails from the area, rallying behind local hero Rasmeni to exact his revenge.
Ngxeke, who is on the verge of relinquishing the national title to pursue a world title shot, wanted his homeboy to take over the reign, but he had to first beat top-rated Sigaba to stand a chance of contesting the crown.
Rasmeni came out of the blocks and rushed Sigaba around the ring, applying relentless pressure.
Using roughhouse tactics which drew a warning from the referee, Rasmeni maintained his aggression, forcing Sigaba to hold.
As Rasmeni visibly slowed down, Sigaba started to pick him apart with jabs followed by a looping right hand which opened a cut on the local hero’s eye.
Rasmeni’s corner did an excellent job of closing the cut, but the eye began to swell, swinging the pendulum in Sigaba’s favour.
Despite the handicap, Rasmeni never stopped trying, transforming the bout into an epic battle of will and wits.
Sigaba was able to time Rasmeni’s lunges with jabs, with one of the punches wobbling him in the eighth round.
Sigaba jumped in with a left-right salvo that almost decapitated Rasmeni as he fell heavily in the neutral corner.
Rasmeni rose on unsteady legs, but before the resumption of the bout, the bell came to his rescue.
However, it was clear the one-minute rest in the corner would not be enough for him to recover and when the ninth round resumed, Rasmeni was still woozy.
Sigaba pounced with two more big shots which sent Rasmeni crashing to the canvas, forcing referee Sithembele Tom to wave the fight over.
Sigaba said his sights were set on the SA title, for which he is rated number one.
“I know some questioned me for taking this fight while the SA title shot is on the horizon, but I was confident of my abilities,” he said.
Rasmeni, who was given a standing ovation, apologised for failing to repay the crowd’s support and promised to go back to the drawing board.
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