The big talk of defeat being avenged in a championship fight between Nkululeko Mhlongo and John Bopape, the challenger, ended in the latter being crowned as the new champion on Friday (29/04).
Bopape (30) is the South African welterweight champion after the showdown in the Mangaung Indoor Sports Centre.
Mhlongo (40) had vowed to revenge himself on Bopape after defeat in a non-title bout early last year.
In the end, however, Bopape ended Mhlongo’s championship reign. This was Bopape’s second successive win following last year’s victory over a vastly experienced opponent.
Mhlongo’s championship pedigree did not prevail against gutsy Bopape, also known as Section 29, who went toe-to-toe with the former champion.
The gruelling championship bout ended in the 11th round with Bopape winning via technical knockout. Respected South African ring official Thabo Spampool stopped the contest when Mhlongo, also known as The Bulldog, could not recover to continue with the fight following a second knockdown. The challenger unleashed a powerful punch to dispose of Mhlongo.
The veteran boxer emerged from the ring battered and bruised. He had run out of steam, contrary to his junior opponent staying composed amid bleeding from the nose at some stage.
Bopape’s tenacity saw him weathering the storm. He recovered well after being hit below the belt by Mhlongo midway through the 12-rounder championship contest.
It came to light during a post-fight interview that something had disrupted Mhlongo mentally. He commented in his home language (Zulu): “There was something with the set-up that did not go as planned.”
Unlike most boxers normally do, Bopape did not celebrate wildly his all-important win over Mhlongo, who is one of the most decorated fighters in South Africa and on the African continent.
The newly crowned champion said he was delighted and that it had been a litmus test.
Bopape has opened the door to challenge for lucrative international championships with the achievement.
