Mixed night for Edenvale boxers at Emperors Palace showdown

It was an evening of mixed outcomes for Edenvale’s boxers when they set out to compete at Emperors Palace at the end of March.

Three boxers from the Edenvale-based Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy, Roark Knapp, Monica ‘Savage’ Mkandla, and Sanele Sogcwayi, competed in the Sole Survivor Box and Dine Tournament.

In the opening bout, Zimbabwean-born Mkandla stunned Thema Zuma of KwaZulu-Natal to win their six-round bantamweight contest.

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Mkandla, who trains under the watchful eye of Vusi Mtolo at the Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy, won every round against a gutsy Zuma and remains unbeaten after nine fights and looks set for tougher challenges.

Featherweight prospect Sogcwayi produced a convincing performance to secure a unanimous points decision victory against Namibia’s Tomas Shifiona on the undercard of the tournament.

The judges scored the eight-round featherweight fight 77-74, 79-72 and 79-72 in Sogcwayi’s favour with the South African southpaw now 5-0.

Knapp’s hopes of winning the biggest purse in domestic boxing history, nearly R1m, came crashing down when WBC Africa and SA Super Welterweight champion Brandon Thysse of Alberton sent him to the canvas for the count in the ninth round of their trilogy clash.

Going into this epic clash with one victory apiece, Knapp and Thysse had two titles, “Sole Survivor” bragging rights and a huge payday to fight for, guaranteeing fans a thrilling fight.

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While the Edenvale boxer had his chances, he sent Thysse to the canvas in the seventh, but the champion remained composed and came back to hurt Knapp in the eighth, with the latter battling to breathe at the bell.

Thysse smelt blood and pounced with a devastating left to Knapp’s body, sending him to the deck in pain with the referee counting Knapp out to give a joyous Thysse all the honours and a massive payday.