By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Aquilla Boxing Promotions.
Aquila Boxing Promotions’ Knockout Chaos 2 lost its marquee attraction weeks before fight night when the highly anticipated grudge match between SD Pypers and Silverman was postponed after Pypers suffered an orbital blowout fracture. But rather than diminishing the occasion, Saturday night’s sold out event in Johannesburg produced a worthy new headline act as Sabelo Ndwandwe was crowned the new IBO All Africa Featherweight champion.
Ndwandwe edged Lindokuhle Khuzwayo by split decision after 10 fiercely contested rounds, bringing an entertaining evening of boxing to a fitting conclusion. It was a contest that remained in the balance throughout, with both featherweights enjoying their moments before the judges were called upon to separate them.
Their efforts were recognised immediately afterwards when Aquila Boxing Promotions founder Kevin Lerena awarded both fighters R20,000 performance bonuses in acknowledgement of one of the standout contests of the evening.
The title fight ultimately proved an ideal replacement after the original main event was forced off the card. While the postponement of Pypers against Silverman was an obvious disappointment, Lerena insisted in the lead up to the event that the promotion remained committed to delivering a quality night of boxing.
“It is going to be a massive evening. Each event we do just gets bigger and better. Fans can expect great action and good knockouts,” Lerena said before the event. “It is unfortunate that the main event had to be postponed after SD Pypers sustained an orbital blowout fracture, but this is boxing. We remain committed to the fighters and the public, and Pypers against Silverman will happen later this year.”
That confidence was rewarded as the card delivered eight competitive bouts featuring a blend of experienced professionals and some of South Africa’s most promising young talent.
The action began with Matthew Petersen defeating Tshegofatso Matlala in their middleweight contest before Tumelo Mapahlele outpointed Luke Hendrikz over six featherweight rounds. Simnikiwe Bongco followed with a convincing victory over veteran Denis Mwale in the super welterweight division.
Liam Fox then overcame Dino Malajika in a four round catchweight contest, while Gary van Staden defeated Nicolas Kasongo Nzengu at super middleweight. Kaine Fourie secured victory against Faraday Mukandile at welterweight before experienced campaigners Jackson Chauke and Gideon Buthelezi produced an entertaining junior bantamweight contest, with Chauke taking the honours.
Beyond the official results, the evening also rewarded standout performances through the Knockout Clock initiative.
Mapahlele earned an additional R10,000 courtesy of KC Pinnacle Holdings, while Fox received R5,000 from Nasty Enrg. Van Staden collected an extra R25,000 thanks to Parque & The Arch, while Fourie added R20,000 to his purse through Tigris X Discovery. Lerena then rounded off the evening by awarding Ndwandwe and Khuzwayo R20,000 each for their memorable title fight.
Knockout Chaos 2 concluded a busy week for Aquila Boxing Promotions, following the official media launch and weigh in at Lerena’s recently opened RPM Performance Gym. Saturday’s capacity crowd reflected the growing appetite for professionally staged boxing events and reinforced the promotion’s ambition to provide meaningful opportunities for local fighters.
With a new continental champion crowned and several impressive performances across the undercard, the second edition of Knockout Chaos delivered on its promise despite the late change at the top of the bill.
For Ndwandwe, it marked the biggest victory of his career. For Aquila Boxing Promotions, it was further evidence that the promotion continues to build momentum as one of South African boxing’s emerging forces.