Tough opponents prevented victories for Team Dida top boxers
The duo both reached the final rounds of their gruelling bouts, which both ended in draws.
Team Dida’s top boxer Thato Bonokoane and the promising Linda Ntshingila both had an uneasy run when they fought against tough opponents at a tournament in Kagiso on 30 March.
On what was dubbed the ‘Day of Reckoning’, the Kagiso Recreational and Memorial Hall was packed to capacity with boxing fans who came out to support their favourite fighters.Thato, the World Boxing Federation African Super Bantamweight champion and Linda were two of three Team Dida boxers who represented this West Rand boxing club. The duo both reached the final rounds of their gruelling bouts, which both ended in draws.
Thato, the fan favourite and stylish boxer, fought in the main and final bout of the evening against a KwaZulu-Natal boxer Innocent Mantengu, for the vacant South African Junior Featherweight title, which none of the fighters claimed as their explosive fight ended in a draw in the 12th round.Although Thato started very slow, seemingly undermining his opponent, he started picking up energy at the later stages of their fight.
Reflecting on the fight, Thato’s coach, Dida Dipheko, felt his boxer had the upper hand. “According to boxing rules, a title fight should not end in a draw, hence the judges should’ve nominated a winner. I believe the winner should have been Thato because he was always two points ahead,” he said.
Dida added that Boxing South Africa is trying to push for an anticipated rematch between the fighters as the spectators who had come from far and wide weren’t happy with the final decision.
Linda arguably had the most enthralling clash against an experienced Brandon Thysse, who was looking to put a stop to the fight before the final round. However, the undefeated Linda refused to back down and fought until the 10th and final round. It also ended in a draw. Coach Dida hailed the ‘Gentle Beast’ for his impressive performance. “It was a very close fight. Linda was good – I consider him a winner. With only four fights to his name he fought against a guy with massive experience and rated second in his division,” he explained.
Dida was also happy with the victory of his pro debut boxer, Cain Dube, who won on points against Sabelo Mazibuko in the Junior Featherweight division scheduled for four rounds.
In other bouts, Anthony Grobler won via split decision against Zimisele Magagula in the Junior Lightweight division, a fight which saw both boxers boxing barefoot after a few falls due to the ring being slippery. Tiisetso Padi became the first boxer to scoop a technical knockout victory against Khumbudzo Bandatswana. Khaya Busakwe finished Emmauel Mhlongo in the same way in the fourth round in a bout scheduled for six. Sharvontigh Koopman was the only boxer who thrashed his opponent, Francis Matika with a knockout in the first round.
The event was supported by a number of celebrities, among them the Mogale City Local Municipality Mayor, Naga Patrick Lepudi and the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Tokozile Xasa.
