Grant comes from behind to win WBF belt

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Francois Botha was 37 seconds away from winning the WBF heavyweight belt when Michael Grant from the USA knocked him out in the twelfth round at the Montecasino near Johannesburg on Saturday night. In a rather poor fight with pushing and wrestling throughout Botha (115.24kg) had built up a points lead against the slow and ponderous Grant (113.94kg). Though rounds one to six there was very little action and it was difficult to separate the fighters. The South African shaded rounds eight and nine and had a big round number eleven when he staggered Grant on occasions and it appeared if he was going to go down. However, he managed to make it to the bell by holding and mauling against the tiring Botha. In the final round Botha made the mistake of mixing it with Grant who had been trying to throw his big right hand without success throughout the fight, when he landed a overhand right to the jaw that sent the onrushing Botha crashing flat on his back to canvas where Ingo Barrabas from Germany counted him out.

Botha was down for some time and had to receive medical attention. Grant improves his record to 48-4, 36 KOs and Botha drops to 48-6-3, 28 KOs.

The tournament was well presented by new promoters Showpony Promotions but the facilities for the working press left a lot to be desired with cramped conditions and no control at ringside.

Also there was a lack of any visible security control.

Funeka and Klassen win vacant belts

On the undercard Ali Funeka (62.96kg) won the vacant WBF junior welterweight belt when he beat fellow South African Zolani Marali (63.02kg) on a split decision.

A rather slow and sluggish Funeka (31-3-3, 25 KOs) was rather fortunate to receive the decision against the busier Marali (21-5, 13 KOs) who was deducted a point for holding in the sixth round. However, he scored a knockdown in the eleventh round in a fight that never rose to any heights and surely did enough to take the belt. Judges Lulama Mtya and Simphiwo Mbini scored the fight 116-112 and 115-111 for Funeka whist judge Aubrey Erasmus had it 115-112 for Marali which was closer to the mark.

Malcolm Klassen (58.34kg) was just too fast and slick for the American-based Mexican Daniel Lomeli (58.80kg) as he scored a workmanlike 12 round points decision to win the vacant WBF junior lightweight belt. Judges Glenn Feldman and Aubrey Erasmus scored it 118-110 and 117-111, whilst judge Desmond Bloyd had it a rather close 115-113.

In a clash of southpaws Lubabalo Msuthu (53.50kg) appeared rather fortunate to retain his WBF bantamweight belt on a split decision against Dennis Tubieron (54.40kg) from the Philippines. Msuthu whose last fight was on August 28, 2009 improved his record to 13-2-1, 10 KOs and Tubieron dropped to 12-1-1, 4 KOs.

In a completely one-sided fight Ilunga Makabu (87.10kg) from the Democratic Republic of Congo won the vacant WBF cruiserweight belt when he stopped Pedro Ortas (89.50kg) of Brazil at 2:54 into the eleventh round. Makabu, who is based in South Africa took his record to 10-1, 10 KOs and Otas dropped to 23-2, 19 KOs.

In an all-action fight Mthobisi Buthelezi (66.34kg) from KwaZulu/Natal won the vacant WBF International welterweight belt with a seventh round stoppage win over Gerry Nekubve (65.92kg) of the Limpopo Province. The time was 2:49. Buthelezi takes his record to 11-1, 7 KOs and Nekhubve drops to 10-2-1, 5 KOs.

November 20th, 2011

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