Fight Island a treat for boxing fans

Lonwabo Marele|Published 4 months ago

The event at Cabo Beach Club attracted fight fans and celebrities.

Cabo Beach Club outside the V&A Waterfront was packed to the rafters this past weekend with spectators enjoying a night of boxing by the beach.

Headlined by Wynberg’s Cristiano Ndombassy and Gqeberha’s Darrin Rossouw, the Fight Island event was organised by Insane Boxing Promotions and ML Boxing Promotions.

Promoter Matt Leisching said the event was the first of its kind in South Africa.

“The event was just what we expected it to be; great entertainment in and out the ring, world class venue, and amazing people and celebrities were there bringing new eyes to the sport and giving a great platform to the boxers which is what they deserve,” he said.

“Thank you to my sponsors Bomb Squad, Knox Dydrate, Pepper Club Hotel and Tic Tac Bets for making it happen,” said Leisching.

In the main bout, Ndombassy got the better of Rossouw in the first round with a TKO win in the welterweight division. The former world champion, Ndombassy extended his professional tally to 14 wins and nine losses. Rossouw’s record drops to three losses and eight wins.

Provincial champion Kaya Mlata beat former world champion, Siboniso Gonya from KZN in the super bantamweight division via unanimous points.

Dillon Solomons, from Pride Fighting Academy, suffered a first round defeat to Eric Kasanda from Savage Boxing Academy. Solomons loss takes him to three losses with six wins under his belt.

Rising prospect, Dylan Prosser was all smiles after his win against a tough Sifiso Chilli. The TKO win against Chilli increased Prosser’s professional record to five unbeaten wins. Chilli drops to two losses and one win.

Pretoria’s SD Pypers concluded his middleweight fight in the first round against Sipho Manya, from The Icon. Pypers moves to two wins.

Promising amateur female boxer, Saar-rah Karriem outboxed Hanna Von Wirth, winning the bout via TKO to claim Cabo Fight Island’s title on the night.

Boyd Allen beat Nicholas Jooga in the super welterweight division, pushing his winning tally to seven wins, one draw and one loss, while Jooga drops to three wins and six losses.

Rising star, Kaya Mlata made it 6-0 on Saturday.

Nicholas Jooga in defence mode against Boyd Allen.

Officials keeping the boxers safe in the ring, from left, Elroy Marshall, Deon Dwarte, Cliff Mbelu and Oscar Noels. At the back, ring announcer Duncan Pollock with officials, Sipho Ndongeni and Frederick Van Der Ross, at Cabo Beach Club, in Waterfront, during Fight Island, on October 19.

Apex’s Boyd Allen getting ready for his eight round action against Nicholas Jooga from 9Sai Boxing in Khayelitsha.

Khayelitsha’s Asemahle Sentile on ring duty with the microphone.

In the amateur bout, Retreat’s Saar-rah Karriem took on Hanna Von Wirth, from Sea Point’s Blood, Sweat and Tears. Karriem, fighting out of Bushido MMA and Jiu Jiutsi, won via TKO in the 54kg.

Strutting their stuff, on the left, Leandre Chukwenya up against Ariel Mezeraci in the middleweight division.

Ring announcer Duncan Pollock in action in Cape Town.

Pride Fighting Academy’s Dillon Solomons got caught with a hook behind the ear early in the first round, which hampered his chances of continuing the fight against Eric Kasanda from Savage Boxing Academy in Gauteng.

Promising middleweight boxer Dylan Prosser extended his unbeaten record to five wins when he beat KZN’s Sifiso Chilli via TKO in round five of six.

Insane Boxing Promotion’s Savva Savvas all smiles with Boxing South Africa’s provincial manager Mzoli Tempi at Cabo Fight Island.

UFC Middleweight Champion of the world, Dricus Du Plessis presented a teammate from CIT Performance in Pretoria, SD Pypers.

The left jab sums up the night for Kaya Mlata and Siboniso Gonya’s fight. The Western Cape Boxing Champ, Mlata made lightwork of the former International Champ, Gonya. Picture: Lonwabo Marele

Kaya Mlata, from Makhaza, extended his professional winning record to six unbeaten victories at the weekend.

After three defeats, Cristiano Ndombassy bounced back to winning ways with an emphatic first round knockout against Darrin Rossouw.

Pretoria’s SD Pypers was victorious via knockout against KZN’s Sipho Manya in the middleweight.