ESPN
ESPN Africa Boxing 14 Live Results
ESPN AFRICA BOXING 14 IS HERE!
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When: February 24th, 2022
Times: Live broadcast set to begin at 7pm CAT/12pm EST
Where: Johannesburg, South Africa
How To Watch: ESPN (DStv 218, Starsat 248), SABC Sport, and select international broadcasters
Full ESPN Africa Boxing 14 Results
Sydney Ntsemi vs. Nelson Mbhele [Middleweight Bout]
Ntsemi walked into this fight already the underdog with a majority of the crowd favoring Mbhele. Ntsemi walked into this fight having zero wins to his record but he was determined to change that. The first round went by pretty quickly with the pair feeling each other out but, by the second round, that had changed. Ntsemi came in firing hard-hitting shots in the second round but Mbhele’s defence was proving to be superior. Mbhele soon retaliated with his own hard shots and striking that had the crowd getting riled up. The third round proved to be the most explosive as the two traded jabs with equal power but, once again, Mbhele proved to be superior. Going into the final round, the stakes were high. Both fighters were trying to back each other into a corner looking for a finish. Ntsemi and Mbhele put on an exciting display that went the distance and it ultimately came down to the judges. Unfortunately, it did not prove to be Ntemi’s night.
Final Result: Nelson Mbhele by Unanimous Decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Rofhiwa Maphupha vs. Thami Luthuli [Flyweight Bout]
The first flyweight bout of the evening would see Limpopo’s Rofhiwa Maphupha going up against Thami Luthuli from Gauteng. The fight between the two was explosive from the start but Luthuli’s punches were landing more than Maphupha’s. In the second round, momentum began shifting from Luthuli over to Maphupha. By the third round, the fight had significantly slowed down with the two taking it easy. The corners of both fighters had serious talks with the fighters going into the fourth round and the two did their best to ensure they get the win. Although the fight started off hot, it gradually slowed down but still made for a good showing.
Final Result: Thami Luthuli by Unanimous Decision (40-36, 39-37, 39-37)
Thembani Mahlanga vs. Darrin Roussow [Super Welterweight Bout]
The first match of the main card saw Darrin Roussow going up against Thembani Mahlanga in a 6-round clash at super welterweight. Both fighters came dressed for the occasion and were ready for a hard-hitting affair. The two came out already throwing shots. The pace did not slow down and Roussow continued to put on a show. The third round saw Mahlanga get into it and throw some shots that had Roussow’s corner worried. The two slugged out all through the third and fourth round but the fifth round saw Mahlanga go to the ground. Mahlanga did manage to beat the count and get up. By the time the sixth round rolled around, Roussow was simply looking to get the finish. Roussow had a clear new-found confidence. It didn’t take too long for Roussow to send Mahlanga crashing into the mat in that sixth round. After being checked by the referee, Mahlanga was deemed unfit to continue.
Final Result: Darrin Roussow by TKO in Round 6
Sithembiso Maduna vs. Abdul Aziz Kunert [Featherweight Bout]
Abdul-Aziz Kunert came into this fight being considered the fan-favorite. Throughout the six rounds, the fight remained steady and fairly consistent. The two traded some shots but, for the most part, the pair were seemingly willing to go the distance. Both fighters were looking to do enough to get the win from the judges. When it was all said and done, both fighters thought they had done enough to secure the win and were visibly proud of their performances. Both fighters were evenly matched, and it showed in their fight. Most in the crowd were marking this the tightest fight to actually call. Luckily, that decision was up to the judges. This led to the first split decision of the evening and tensions were high in the venue. Finally, the result was given.
Final Result: Sithembiso Maduna by Split Decision (55-59, 58-56, 58-56)
Denis Mwale vs. Gift Bholo [Super Lightweight Bout]
Both Denis Mwale and Gift Bholo walked into this fight with eight wins on their records. The only difference is that, where Mwale had only had two losses, Bholo already 11 losses to his record. Although this seems bad, it also means that Bholo came into this fight with more experience, and that could make him a better fighter in general. The two went the full eight rounds scheduled for them and put on a fight. For the most part, Mwale was keeping Bholo at bay because, when Bholo caught Mwale, he would hit hard. Once again, this fight was a closely contested one but, in the later rounds, Bholo had regained control. Still, this fight ended in similar fashion to the previous where there was a split decision.
Final Result: Gift Bholo by Split Decision (77-75, 75-77, 77-75)
Halima Vunjabei vs. Simangele Hadebe [Vacant ABU Female Flyweight Title Bout]
The penultimate bout of the evening was a special one as it was to crown a new ABU Female Flyweight champion. There was a clear height difference between the two and Hadebe would use that to her advantage. Early on in the second round, Vunjabei’s left eye began to swell up. As the fight progressed, that eye continued to shut further and swell bigger but the fight still went on. After the fourth round, it was announced that Hadebe was winning on the judges’ scorecards. Determined to bounce back, Vunjabei came into the fifth round swinging at Hadebe, in hopes of swinging the judges’ vote her way. By the end of the eighth round, Vunjabei was evaluated by a doctor to determine whether she could even compete further and, although she passed that test, it was announced that she was still losing on points. At this point, Vunjabei had a swollen shut eye but the will to get a finish. After a long-fought battle, the judges had the ultimate decision and Simangele Hadebe was crowned the new ABU Female Flyweight Champion.
Final Result: Simangele Hadebe by Unanimous Decision (99-93, 100-92, 98-92)
Phila Mpontshane (c) vs. Sibusiso Zingange [SA Super Featherweight Title Bout]
Usually, in a fight where there’s a champion defending his/her championship, it is expected that that will be the person to have the most support from the crowd. At the ESPN Africa Boxing 14 event, that could not have been any more different. The challenger, Sibusiso Zingange, had an entire section wearing his t-shirts and cheering throughout the bout. Regardless, Phila Mpontshane came into this bout ready to prove why he is the reigning, defending, undisputed SA Super Featherweight Champion. Mpontshane had already successfully defended the championship five times so he was really confident and proud in his stride. Zingange had other plans for the champion though, and he dominated the fight from start to finish. The two put on a hard-hitting, action-packed fight with non-stop action throughout all rounds. Zingange showed no signs of gassing and was always ready to fight. That paid off as, by the time the final bell rang, it was clear to all who had won the battle.
Final Result: Sibusiso Zingange by Unanimous Decision (120-107, 118-109, 120-109)
