Combrink in cracker of a fight
Christmas Cracker marked the last boxing tournament of the year.
THE boxing fraternity was treated to an excellent end of the year pound for pound feast as the boxing for the year draw to a close at Christmas Cracker Box ‘n Dine.
The tournament was held on Wednesday December 3 at Emperors Palace, presented by African Ring in conjunction with Golden Gloves promotions.
Dowayne Combrink from Alberton fighting out of the Harold Volbrecht stable is steadily becoming a contender for a bigger boxing career. Though there was not much to choose between Combrink and Giovanni Bushby in the middleweight division bout, he claimed his spot in the ring.
The stronger and well-trained Combrink paced himself well over the eight rounds and used well placed punches to great effect to wear down his opponent. Both boxers didn’t give an inch and were matched evenly pound for pound. Combrink won by unanimous decision by the judges 78/74, 77/75, 77/75.
In the main undercard of the evening Alfonso Tissen met eye to eye with Tebogo Malose in another middleweight contest over six rounds.
The young Tissen also claimed his part of the ring, dominating in the earlier rounds, tough Malose made a strong comeback in the latter. Tissen did enough to secure a unanimous decision from the judges 58/54, 57/55, 57/55.
Patrick Mukala and Page Tshesane fought in the catchweight division over six rounds. The DRC’s Mukala won by majority decision from the judges 60/54, 57/57, 59/55. It was a tepid affair with few highlights.
In the light-heavyweight divison, debutants Brendon Sweetnam faced Leron Myles. Myles placed the better punches and got the better of Sweenan. Myles won by unanimous decision by the judges 38/38, 36/35, 39/37.
The fight of the night belongs to Dee Jay Kriel from Colin Nathan’s Hot Box gymnasium. Kriel faced Donal Khetsane, who had Vuyani Bungu working his corner, in the junior flyweight division over four rounds. Working from behind an educated jab, Kriel,s well-placed jabs took the sting out of Khetsane, who was sent to the canvas in the first round. Kriel won by TKO 2:3.
Kriel’s stablemate, Percy Mkhise, overcame a few wobbly moments in the junior-flyweight to stop Jimmy Hamela in the third of their four-rounder.
Opening the show, welterweight Zenzele Ntanzi won on points over four against Silase Sethole.
