03 Oct 2017

Onkarabile ‘Ironman’ Mothibedi made the nation proud by beating South African boxer, Thamsanqa Cele by majority rule in an independence eve boxing bonanza organised by Melroy Promotions at the Big Five Lodge.

Mothibedi did not show any respect to his opponent and controlled the fight from round one until the last round.

Although Cele proved to be a strong, experienced fighter, Mothibedi managed to handle him well by using his speed to get out of risky encounters.

Round three was the most exciting for spectators as both boxers went toe to toe looking  for a technical knock-out, but Mothibedi, who is not as muscular as Cele, managed to block most of the dangerous punches.

Cele got frustrated as the rounds progressed as he realised that he had a fight on his hands, and that his opponent was not going anywhere.

With frustration written all over his face, Mothibedi grew in confidence and unleashed left jabs and right hooks to accumulate points.

At the end of the bout it was Mothibedi who was declared the winner, recording his second victory in the professional ranks. In April, he outclassed his Zambian opponent, Bernard Mwango.

Mothibedi said in an interview after the fight that he was happy that he won his second fight in a space of four months.

He said his coach had told him to study his opponent in the first round, and to go for the jagular in the latter rounds.

“We managed to execute our plan. You saw me moving a couple of times in the ring in the last round because we wanted him to come to me and it worked,” he said.

Mothibedi’s coach, Larona Francis said their preparations and planning for the fight went accordingly.

“I told him to attack with caution in the first and second round in order to gauge his strengths and to take tactical rests during the fight.

I also told him to jab more and move to the sides,” he said.

Francis said in round five and six they launched all out attacks, adding that he was happy that his boxer followed the plan to the letter.

He noted that it was his boxers first time to fight six rounds, adding that he trusted his boxer that fatigue would not deter him from winning the fight.

“You see when you fight for four rounds it becomes anaerobic, but six rounds upwards it becomes a little aerobic so during our preparation we prolonged out programme, including power and strength, so that he copes with six rounds,” he said.

Cele said the fight was tough, and acknowledged that Mothibedi was well prepared for him, adding that Mothibedi scored more points in the third round.

“He caught me with heavy punches in the third round, and I totally forgot what I had to do. I kept him far and that’s when he was moving and I had to follow him,” he said.

Furthermore, Cele said local boxers stayed long in the amateur ranks gaining experience while it was not the case in South Africa.

“To be honest I wouldn’t say I’m experienced.

We are at the same level, but the only difference is that I have seven fights and he has two fights only,” he said.
 Cele said Mothibedi was a good boxer, adding that he was confident that with more hard work, he could go places.

Cele’s coach, Edward Sithole said the fight was good, and that his boxer executed their plan. He said their only set back was that Mothibedi was fast.

The coach said he was impressed by the local boxer given that it was his second professional fight, adding that with more fights he would go places.

In the undercard fights, Tshepiso Mokgadi of Bond Boxing won by unanimous decision   against Alex Thobela of South Africa. Robby Botshelo also won with an unanimous decision against Modiri Sanyathi.

Tshepo Khutloeng from Bond Boxing also won by unanimous decision against Maiketso Moreki Lobatse. Thabiso Mpolokeng from Bond Boxing promotion taught Thato Monabana of Lobatse some boxing lessons, and was saved by the referee to lose by the technical knock-out rule. Ends