ZAKHELE XABA
U QALE ngegiya eliphezulu umkhankaso wokuqopha umlando ka-Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka ophumelele ukuwina ibhande le-International Boxing Organisation (IBO) welterweight ezimpini zeGolden Gloves Promotions (GGP) ebezise-Emperors Palace ngoMgqibelo ebusuku.
UFuneka (36) unqobe uRoman Belaev waseRussia ngomcacamezelo womlalisa phansi emuva kokumiswa kwempi emzuliswaneni ka-12 kade uBelaev esevuleke inxeba phezu kweso. Ukulimala kukaBelaev, obebukeka ezimisele ukugoduka nesicoco, kuphoqe ukuthi imiswe impi, kuyiwe ezibalweni zamajaji.
Emakhadini amabili uFuneka ubesahamba phambili ngo 105-104 no 109-100. Kwelesithathu bekuhamba phambili uBelaev 104-105.
Ngokomthetho uma umshayisibhakela elimale ngenxa yokushaywa yisibhakela, kubonakala ukuthi ngeke esakwazi ukuqhubeka, kuwina obehamba phambili ngamaphuzu. UFuneka unyusele irekhodi lakhe ku 31-3.
Ukunqoba kukaFuneka kusho isiqalo esihle esibheke ephusheni lakhe lokuhlabana ngebhande le-IBO junior welterweight. Ngesonto eledlule uthe nakuba esemdala esibhakeleni kodwa ufuna ukuqopha umlando ngokuphatha amabhande amabili e-IBO ezisindweni ezehlukene.
Empini yangoMgqibelo, uFuneka, usebenzise ubude bakhe ngokuhlehlisa uBelaev ngemihlokolozo. Nakuba enqobile uFuneka kodwa izinga lakhe lokuvika beliphansi kwazise kunezibhakela ebezizingenela kalula.
Kwenye impi ebibhekwe ngabomvu, uThomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen, unqobe ibhande le-World Boxing Council (WBC) International light heavyweight empini yakhe yokuqala kulesi sigaba. Uhlule uDenis Grachev waseRussia ngomcacamezelo womlalisa phansi emuva kokuthi umqeqeshi wembangi ezikhalele kunompempe emuva komzuliswano ka-10, ethi umshayisibhakela wakhe ngeke esakwazi ukuqhubeka.
Nakuba u-Oosthuizen, onyusele irekhodi lakhe ku- 24-0-2, enqobile kodwa ushiye abathandi besibhakela bedangele ngezinga eliphansi alikhombisile.
nKwezinye izimpi, uJohnny Muller uhlule uKevin Lerena ngamaphzu kwathi uThabang Ramagole wazidlela amahlanga kuMbulelo Nxazonke.