Zolisa Batyi retains SA title on a majority draw

Zolisa Batyi from Mdantsane retained his South African featherweight title in a closely-fought encounter with a majority draw against Abdulazi Kunert of Cape Town on Friday night at the Bellville CPUT in Cape Town.

Both fighters came into the fight throwing leather from the opening bell and gave it their all. Many at ringside found it difficult to find a winner and at the end a draw appeared to be the correct decision.

Kunert (11-2-1; 2), who was having his second crack at a South African title, scored with a lot of clean shots but Batyi (7-2-1; 5;) was the aggressor and landed the heavier punches.

Batyi made a fast start from the opening bell and pushed forward from his southpaw stance and it looked like an easy night’s work for the champion.

However, this was not the case as Kunert picked up the pace and possibly shaded the third round, with the champion coming back strongly in rounds three and four to score with an impressive uppercut.

Kunert boxed well from behind his jab and it became toe-to-toe action in the next few rounds.

It was difficult to split the two well-conditioned fighters.

At the end it was two completely exhausted fighters who came out for the last round, with Kunert possibly doing enough to take the round.

The scores were 115-114 for Kunert and the other two judges had it 114-114, resulting in a draw.