If there has ever been a sweeter or swifter right-hand punch to the jaw than that with which Mlungisi “The Shark” Dlamini knocked out Zolani “The Untouchable” Marali, at 2:59 seconds of the 4th round, at Emperors Palace on Saturday night, to win the vacant IBO world lightweight title, then it has escaped both my attention and memory! Indeed, in what the organizers billed as “DAMOCLES”, Saturday’s blockbuster event was one to savour in terms of savage application and nail-biting tension.
The portents signified an explosive night at the office for most of Golden Gloves Promotions “young lions”- as consortium CEO Rodney Berman is apt to call his clutch of blossoming young stars – and in accordance with the week’s feverish swing in the betting, one sensed there’d be the odd surprise or two!
Well, there definitely were, and whereas bookmakers failed to anticipate the brutal mechanics that saw 18-10 underdog Mlungisi Dlamini effectively burst the untouchable “bubble” that was created around former four-time world champion Zolani Marali, they also failed to spot the creative flair and terrier-like tenacity that made Isaac “The Golden Boy” Chilembe the new WBC International light heavyweight champion, by virtue of a hard-fought 12-round points decision over hitherto unbeaten Doudou Ngumbu of the Congo.
Dlamini, whose now undefeated in 21 fights, with 10 knockouts, started his bout with former buddy Marali like a chess master looking for an opening, and may have lost two of the first two rounds before uncorking that memorable right hander that rewrote the destiny of the IBO lightweight throne! Yes, there had been quite a bit of banter and sword rattling prior to this potentially fiery encounter, but like most ringsiders, your writer was stunned by the picture-perfect punch that flattened the 32-year-old Marali and may effectively have ended his career.
One veteran reporter, who has been around sweaty boxing gymnasiums for close to forty years, in fact called the Dlamini showstopper, “One of the deadliest one-punch knockouts in local ring history” while another less seasoned but similarly awed scribe referred to it as “A bolt-from-the-blue”.
Mind you, Dlamini’s well versed trainer Warren Hulley had been quietly alluding to just such an end to this eagerly-awaited championship fight and no doubt his hours and months of patient council were justly rewarded. “I’ve been saying for a long while that Mlungisi has the talent and dedication to become a world class champion and tonight you saw for yourself,” said a jubilant Hulley. Certainly the predatory Shark trashed the pre-advanced notion that Marali’s southpaw stance and blistering combinations would pave the foundation to victory, and even trainer Colin Nathan was moved to exclaim, “Zolani was hit with an express-train right hand that would have knocked out any lightweight in the world”. As to his dejected fighter’s immediate future, Nathan added, “It’s really too soon to say. Right now I’d like him to go home and spend Christmas with his family, before we sit down to discuss his future as a fighter”.
And Dlamini? Reminding us that his triumph was born of resolve, cradled in determination and fashioned in sweat, the 26-year-old warrior from KwaZulu-Natal, was resplendent as he discussed the humbling of Marali, whose record now drops to 20-4, like a surgeon would detailing a successful disemboweling. “I was looking to draw him into my right (hand) and it worked perfectly. I mean I could feel that punch all the way down to my boxing boots”" said the new IBO world champion. “No, I can’t say whether or not I think he should retire, because in my book he’s still a fine fighter”. A commendably cordial comment I’d say in comparison to all the harsh words and head-to-head antagonism that was evident earlier in the week.
Malawi-born Isaac Chilembe entered Saturday night’s fray against defending WBC International titleholder Doudou Ngumbu as the slight underdog, but the unanimous decision in his favour (117-112, 115-113, 118-113) was representative of his dominance over a fighter who had never previously been bested as a professional.
A stand-up boxer, Chilembe for the most pummeled his more experienced rival with two-fisted combinations and there were instances when it appeared as if Ngumbu would go down, but the granite-jawed Congolese took the best that the Golden Boy could muster en route to losing his title before an estimated crowd of 2,500 people. “Big things await Isaac in 2010″ said promoter Rodney Berman, “and this was an important step in his ongoing development”.
Having witnessed 1st round victories for two of his young stars; IBO junior flyweight champion Hekkie “The Hex-ecutioner” Budler, who stopped Motswake Moselesele in 2:32 seconds, and heavyweight debutant Flo “The Demolition Man” Simba, who blasted the Free State’s Bernard Vance into early submission, Berman was keenly awaiting the result of the final bout on the bill, when two-time IBO Youth world champion Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen (8-0, 6 knockouts) squared up to SA super middleweight king Tshepang “King Cobra” Mohale (6-2, 5 knockouts) in a contest for the vacant WBA Pan African super middleweight crown.
“If Tommy looks the part in this fight, I’m planning something really big for him in 2010″ Berman had said earlier, and the lean-limbed Oosthuizen certainly never disappointed him. After trading jabs and hefty counter strikes with his equally rangy opponent for the first three rounds and building up an undeniable points lead, Oosthuizen suddenly unleashed a rocket-like straight left from his southpaw stance that dropped the national titleholder flat on his back and he was still down when the referee counted him out 48 seconds into the 4th round.
“I feel good now that I’ve won my third championship belt in 2009″ said a smiling Oosthuizen, whom his trainer/manager Harold Volbrecht unashamedly calls, “the best fighter I’ve ever had the privilege of working with”.
Legendary boxing official Stan Christodoulou was notably impressed with Oosthuizen’s trip-hammer power and predicted that he’d become a huge drawcard over the next few years.
“The kid has a fantastic future ahead of him and I don’t recall too many fighters with better raw talent, especially in the super middleweight ranks”.
