07 Oct 2024

Professional local boxer Thabiso 'Showstopper' Mpolokeng has been crowned the super international bantamweight champion.

He out-pointed his Zimbabwean opponent, Shungu Kupani over eight rounds to claim a unanimous decision before a sold out crowd on October 4 during the main bout of the third edition of the Boxing Fight Night Championship organised by Bond Boxing Promotions.

Boasting an impressive professional record of six wins and only one loss heading into the Friday bout, Mpolokeng dominated his opponent from the first round with a series of jabs that kept Kupani at bay.

The fight appeared to be over in the second round when Mpolokeng staggered Kupani with a big left hand before landing series of brutal punches that forced his opponent to the canvas and only for him to be saved by the bell at the end of the second round.

Kupani nonetheless regained his strength on the third round and seemed to be controlling Mpolokeng with good left jabs and would land some solid right hands. After remarkably surviving a heavy second-round onslaught, Kupani bravely attempted to pressure the champion throughout the middle rounds, before he ran out of steam and allowed Mpolokeng to regain momentum and control the tempo of the bout.

However, Mpolokeng in the sixth round, caught his opponent with an uppercut that landed him on the boxing ring ropes much to the appreciation of the local fans who chanted his ‘Showstopper’ nickname until the end of the round.

Certain of a lead on points, Mpolokeng started moving from side-to-side as Kupani barreled forward and tried to pressure his opponent and threw some punches but most of them landed on Mpolokeng’s gloves as he had his hands up. Mpolokeng's speed and accuracy proved to be a game changer throughout the contest as he landed telling jabs and body shots that led to all the judges calling the bout in his favour at the end of the eighth round, thus handing him back to back international wins following victory against South African boxer, Mandla Simanga last year.

Meanwhile, in another international bout, Mmusi Tswiigi also registered his second professional victory defeating Thembani Mhlanga from South Africa in the International Middleweight.

In other bouts on the card, Kagoetsile Raokgwathlile scored a second round technical knockout over Talent Munda from Zimbabwe in the international featherweight bout with the clock reading 1:21 in round two.

Blows flew thick and fast in the national featherweight division that pitted old foes in Tshephang 'Rambo' Gomotho and Onkarabile 'Scara' Mothibedi. The eye catching bout saw all the three judges calling the bout in favour of Gomotho after six rounds of great boxing spectacle. ENDS