Gloves on fire at Masiphakame

KNYSNA BOXING NEWS - Boxers from Masiphakame Boxing Club have been enjoying good form of late, with the boxers from Dam-se-Bos churning out some gutsy performances over the last two weeks.

The club's boxers took part in the Garden Route Port Festival boxing tournament on 2 and 3 November as well as SA Sport League (SASL) bouts held at the George Showgrounds last weekend, on 16 November.

Emihle Nelson won her fight against Amber Gerber of George last weekend with a technical knockout (TKO) in the second round.

On 2 November she beat Liyema Ndaba of George in the first round, also with a TKO, in a tournament held in Mossel Bay. Athenkosi Bhiyana beat Briton Kimuli in George last week on a 5-0 decision for the second time after they also met in Mossel Bay where Bhiyana (the Western Cape Ant division Champion ) punished Kimuli in all rounds.

Despite his coach Lwanda Madikane believing he has great boxing skills, Ayabulela "Professor" Nyakami lost on a 3-2 decision to Ovayo Shoni of Mossel Bay last week.

Likhona Mazele is the Western Cape runner-up and he beat provincial champion Krotso Molefi in Mossel Bay with a TKO in the first round.

Said Madikane, "Mazele is hoping that they fight again on 30 November in George where the 13-year-old Thembelitsha Primary Grade 7 student wants to close the season with another win."

Anam Manto only joined the club on Monday 11 November giving her all from day one, and on 16 November she stepped into the ring for her debut amateur bout. She boxed well according to Madikane, winning the first and third rounds, but she ended up losing the fight. "The SASL is going to be a great platform for our boxers as they will be active and give all their effort to prove themselves in the years to come," Madikane said proudly.

Madikane himself also boxed on 16 November, coming up against Chayse Norris whom he beat in Oudtshoorn earlier this year with a second-round TKO. He wouldn't be as successful this time around, however, as Norris avenged his loss with a win on split decision. The two boxers will face off again on 30 November in a deciding bout.

Ayabulela "Professor" Nyakami.