Ballito’s star amateur boxer David Rajuli now occupies a career best seventh position in South Africa in the junior lightweight division.
David shot up the rankings after beating Morné Bothma in an eagerly anticipated bout that was the co-main event to the Southern Giant WBA all-Africa welter weight title fight in Johannesburg on November 22.
“I was just too strong for Morné Bothma,” said the Ringside Boxing gym fighter.
As a leftie, Morné fights in the southpaw stance which means he moves in a mirror-reverse to the norm.
This unorthodox stance often puts the southpaw fighter at an advantage due to the tactical and cognitive difficulties of coping with a fighter that moves in this way.
David, being right handed and fighting in the orthodox stance, carefully stuck to the strategy devised between him and coach Hardy Mileham.
“My coach told me after the first round to keep my left foot on the outside, work the body and hurt Morné, just as we practiced,” said David.
A minute into the third of six rounds, Morné’s corner man could see his fighter couldn’t take anymore and threw in the towel.
The referee declared victory by technical knock-out to David.
David said Golden Gloves promoter Jeff Ellis told him after the fight that this year he had been one of the busiest and most exciting fighters to watch.
David won all five of his fights in 2014.
David said the coming year is going to be full of challenges as they are preparing for an SA title fight towards the end of the year.
David’s promoter confirmed on Thursday December 4 that his KZN title fight has been confirmed for March 2015.
The current defending KZN champion has moved up a weight class leaving the title vacant and David not knowing who he will have to fight.
David dedicated the fight to Mileham and his family who lost a family member the night before the fight.
“It was a very emotional weekend for everyone,” said David.
David expressed his gratitude towards Ringside Boxing gym owner Tyron Koen.
“Tyron helped me in a big way and I’m very grateful for a man like him helping me to reach my dreams and goals,” said David.
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