Simphiwe Vetyeka Makes Stunning Ring Return In East London

By Lwazi Ndzobongo: Simphiwe Vetyeka made a stunning come back to the W (win) column by knocking out Thompson Mokwana in the eighth round at the Orient Theatre in East London on Friday night.

In a competitive boxing match between two experienced South Africans, Vetyeka being a former triple world champion and Mokwana, the current SA lightweight champion. It was Vetyeka who proved too much for Mokwana, boxing predominately behind his jab and using all his skills to get the better his opponent, Mokwana, who was by no way outmatched, just outsmarted by a man who has beaten some the world’s best, including the great Chris John in 2013.

Many had thought Vetyeka’s best days were behind him after his defeat at the hands of Lerato Dlamini last October, in a fight that many thought he would win on paper. However Vetyeka was in control of this bout throughout the first six rounds and only in the eighth did his hard work pay off. He unleashed a flurry of punches to the head of Mokwana, punctuated by a big right hand to the side of the head, that sent Mokwana down to his knees and he was counted out by the referee.

The official time was 2 minutes 21 seconds into the eighth, giving Vetyeka the All Africa lightweight title and improving his record to 30-4 (18) whilst Mokwana dropped to 23-12-2 (12).

On the undercard, Yanga Sigqibo won by unanimous 12 round points decision over Sabelo Ngebinyana to retain his SA junior bantamweight title.

The judges scored the bout 116-112, 117-111 and 118-109. It was Sigqibo’s first defence of the title he won last September against Lindile Tshemese. Ngebinyama made Sigqibo’s job much easier by choosing to follow him around the ring instead of trying to cut him off. Sigqibo was too slick and skilled, he landed at will and was able to make the challenger miss terribly at times, all this whilst boxing on the back foot throughout the fight. Sigqibo scored a flash knockdown in the 6th round with a short right to the head.

Sigqibo improves to 10-1-1 (3) and Ngebinyana dropped to 10-3 (8).