Boxing enthusiasts from the Cape Metropole got all the electrifying action they had been craving when Insane Boxing hosted their event on Friday night.
This event, the grandest in Cape Town in recent years, garnered attention nationwide as it was televised live on the national broadcaster.
The main event featured a clash between two warriors, Zolisa Batyi and local favourite Abdul-Aziz Kunert, vying for the SA featherweight belt at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Bellville campus.
The match lived up to its billing, delivering a relentless back-and-forth battle, much to the delight of the boxing fans.
Despite the local hopes for a new champion, the fight concluded in a majority draw, leaving Batyi to retain his belt.
While the locals might have yearned for a home-grown hero to claim the victory, the bout’s intensity undoubtedly satisfied their appetite for thrilling boxing action.
Kunert, fuelled by the desire to rewrite the script of his first crack at the title himself, had given his all in his second shot at the title, and the prospect of a third encounter looms on the horizon with this result not separating the two.
In the undercard, another sensational match=up awaited as Mzuvukile Magwaza took to the ring.
The crowd’s anticipation reached a fever pitch as “Old bones” continues to solidify his standing in the boxing world.
Having claimed the title of provincial champion in the junior featherweight, Magwaza’s ascent through the ranks had been steady and remarkable as he again made the climb he once conquered before when he was the IBF Inter-continental champion.
The spectators erupted in cheers as he made his walk to the ring, a testament to his popularity and the excitement he brings to the sport.
The echoes of his past glory as the IBF intercontinental champion reverberated, and it was clear that Magwaza was inching closer to reclaiming the pinnacle of his boxing journey.
In the ring against Nasiphe Mdlangazi, we only got to witness the boxing blitz for just over a minute as his opponent could not respond to the referee’s count after he was made to take the knee, giving “Old bones” his 13th KO win and his record improving to 22-1-2.
Among the promising prospects on display was Asekho Nocele, a young and dynamic boxer. Now with a record of 2-0 in the professional ranks, Nocele showcased his undeniable talent in the ring against Goitsemodimo Poo for four rounds in the bantamweight division and was awarded the judges scorecards.
Whispers of his potential as a future world champion resonate among the boxing fans whenever his name comes up, and the boxing world should rightfully have their eyes fixed on him. The talented pugilist is one of the most exciting young guns in the squared circle and will surely improve with time.
In the other bout of the night, Alex Kabangu and Dillon Solomons settled their differences in the ring with Kabangu getting the nod from the judges after their eight-round affair in super middleweight.
Emile Brits made light work of Nickolaas Jooga, dispatching him in the second round in the junior middleweight when he failed to answer the bell to start the round.
Dylan Prosser TKOed Henry Muyaya in the first round of their light heavyweight clash.
Asavela Peter and Ndabezintle Plaatjies opened the card in spectacular fashion with Peter taking the judges decision after four rounds in their straw-weight fight.
