Controversy erupted in Athenkosi Tunzi’s ring return when his mini-flyweight clash against Azile Nkwankwa was stopped in the second round at East London’s Guild Theatre on Sunday.
Tunzi, who was fighting for the first time since suffering a shock loss to Nqaba Dantile in May, was dropped by a cuffing shot in the second round.
The blow appeared to land at the back of his head, but the referee picked up the count, setting him back on the scoresheet.
When the action resumed, Nkwankwa continued to land big shots with Tunzi retaliating furiously.
Tunzi appeared to be landing bigger punches and have the upper hand as the pair swapped heavy blows.
The referee then jumped in to stop the action, handing Tunzi a TKO victory and sparking a protest from Nkwankwa’s camp.
The bout formed part of a KayB Promotions show, topped by Bongani Fule’s clash against Siphesihle Mpolweni, which took place after the print deadline.
• There were anxious moments when Carlos Mahlati was brutally knocked out by Siyabulela Xatyana in a junior-featherweight clash.
Mahlati was dropped twice and remained prone on the canvas, prompting medical personnel to attend to him.
He remained on the canvas for close to five minutes until he finally made it to his corner, where he was taken out of the ring on a stretcher.
Sivenathi July score a unanimous points decision victory over Buhle Mhlophe in a mini-flyweight duel.
Likhona Mazele’s knock-down was the deciding factor in his junior-featherweight clash against Mthatha’s Siphelele Maxwele, though Maxwele appeared to edge the bout in the last round.
One of the Gingxana brothers, Oyisa, scored a workmanlike majority decision over tough Athule Ncedani in a junior-bantamweight clash.
Sharing the stage with his older brother Hlumelo, who was scheduled to face Ndibulele Ngqamza in a lightweight clash later, Oyisa appeared to dominate the early stages, only for Ncedani to roar back and force the crowd favourite to dig deep to preserve his unbeaten record in three bouts, with one of the three judges scoring it even.
Daily Dispatch
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