The promotional debut of Ground Up Sports Promotion at East London’s Orient Theatre on Sunday proved a knockout as it delivered thrilling bouts capped by boxers entering the professional set-up for the first time.
The venue was packed to the rafters, with the attendance surpassing tournaments featuring SA title bouts as Nhlanhla Tyirha and Yanga Sigqibo underlined their drawing power despite their shaky careers.
Making his ring return after suffering an 11th-round stoppage loss to Ricardo Malajika for the IBO junior-bantamweight title in August 2024, the effects of Sigqibo’s long layoff were evident.
His timing and punch range were woeful against his decidedly smaller Tanzanian opponent, Msabaha Salum Msabaha, before the Eastern Cape fighter finally forced a stoppage in the sixth round.
At times, both boxers flailed, missing badly, before Sigqibo decided to switch his attack to the body in the third round.
Msabaha stopped fighting back and resorted to crouching to protect his midsection while appearing to be looking for the safest place to fall.
Running from corner to corner, Msabaha managed to neutralise Sigqibo’s onslaught as he continued to employ survival tactics.
Surprisingly, Sigqibo appeared to be running out of gas as he gasped for air despite not being hit with any punch.
He finally cornered the outgunned Tanzanian in the sixth round, landing big punches and forcing referee Allen Matakane to intervene and wave the fight over.
The tournament, dominated by boxers from Mzamo “Chief” Njekanye’s stable in Duncan Village, had the crowd cheering loudly and the fighters reciprocating with solid performances.
Leading the pack was Sihle Booi, who took just two rounds to destroy Thimna Nteta.
Booi flew out of the blocks, landing big blows and at times not even setting them up with a jab.
His stablemate Siyagcoba Veshiwe followed suit by forcing a referee’s stoppage over Ibanathi Manana in their lightweight duel.
Manana, a southpaw, appeared to expend his energy on dancing moves with ring announcer Putco Mafani. When the fight started, he had no match for Veshiwe’s precision punching.
Another Njekanye-trained boxer, Athabile Ngaliphi, cruised to a one-sided points decision over Sivenathi Qwemeshe in their junior-lightweight clash.
Southpaw Ngaliphi teed off as he wished, often jolting the head of Qwemeshe, who displayed an unwillingness to fight, besides often barging in with his head to a clinch.
This cost him a point, setting him further behind on the scorecards.
Two of the judges had Ngaliphi winning by 40-35 while the third had him in front by 40-36 to get his professional debut off to the perfect start.
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.