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New SA champ crowned in EL
Phumzile Matyhila upset the odds to win the SA bantamweight title at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday afternoon.
The challenger beat Nkqubela Gwazela on a split decision over 12 rounds.
Judges Allan Matakane and Andile Matika scored it 116-115 and 115-114 for Matyhila and Siya Vabaza had it 115-113 for Gwazela.
Gwazela made a fast start, scoring to the body and head to take an early lead against the taller Matyhila. However, the 30-year-old champion appeared to tire in the later rounds.
He allowed the 34-year-old Matyhila, who spent most of his time fighting off the back foot, to come back into the fight and do enough to impress two of the judges.
Gwazela appeared a shade unlucky to lose his crown by such close margins and a return fight would be welcomed by many fans.
Gwazela's record dropped to 20-7, with 14 knockouts. The new champion now stands at 17-1-2; 9.
Referee Lulama Mtya had an easy afternoon's work in a close but cleanly contested fight.
It was Gwazela's first defence of the national bantamweight title that he won two months ago. The sanctioning of the main bout seemed questionable because Matyhila was at No 6 as a junior bantamweight in Boxing SA's June rankings.
Matyhila turned professional in February 2004. As an amateur, he won the SA flyweight title in 1998 and in 1999 and 2001 he was the light-flyweight champion.
He also won a bronze medal at 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpar and represented South Africa at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where he was eliminated in the second round.
The tournament was presented by Mzi Mnguni of Eyethu Promotions.
