The development boxing tournament that was presented by Real Steel Promotions last week in the Presleys Night Club in the east of Pretoria, was a great success and spectators enjoyed boxing of superior quality.

Each of the ten fights produced excitement and action that had the crowd on their feet. Several fights had to be decided on the scorecards of the judges while the spectators could experience the drama and excitement of two technical knockouts and two very good knockouts.

The tournament started with two technical knockouts in the first three fights. In the fourth battle all eyes were on Liz Butler from the HTS Tuine gymnasium when she climbed through the ropes for the first time since the tragedy in October last year when Phindile Mwelase died two weeks after Butler knocked her out in a professional fight.

Butler easily defeated Mapule Ngubane on points after a draw in an earlier career fight against Ngubane.

The most exciting fight of the evening was the duel between Sbusiso Zingange from the HTS Tuine gym and David Rajuili in the junior lightweight division.

Rajuili was unbeaten for five fights in a row, but last week he bumped into one of Pretoria’s most exciting young boxers. Zingange maintained an undefeated status with a deserved points victory over Rajuili.

The final two fights of the tournament both ended in knockouts. The renowned Hansie Carr made an impressive return to professional boxing by sending Xolane Mvubu to the canvas in the second round of their junior middleweight fight.

Fikile Nyalunga’s performance was probably the most disappointing of the tournament. This cruiserweight boxer, who has dealt with the highly rated Deon Coetzee in the past, was knocked out in the second round of his fight against Khayeni Hlungwane.