Oosthuizen outlasts Maderna
IBO Super Middleweight world champion Tommy Oosthuizen extended his perfect record to 22 victories on Saturday, November 9, beating Ezequiel Maderna of Argentina by majority decision in their title fight.
Oosthuizen, who was defending his title for the seventh time after winning it in March 2011, was made to work for his victory in a fight that went the distance at Emperors Palace’s Convention Centre.
Two of the three judges scored the 12-round bout 116-112, 117-111 respectively in favour of Oosthuizen, with the third scoring it 114-all.
“It was a great fight, Ezequiel was tough competition,” said Oosthuizen.
“But again, I maintain don’t cry for me Argentina,” crowed the man affectionately known as “Tommy Gun”, referring to the pre-fight medical where he said the fight would be a case of getting the better of the Argentinian.
The 25-year-old Oosthuizen fought from the blue corner as he improved to 22-0 with 13 knockouts. Maderna now has a record of 20-2, which includes 13 knockouts.
The fight started in slow fashion as both fighters sized each other up with the champion affording himself a constant smirk in the opening rounds – clearly enjoying himself.
The bout heated up and both fighters traded damaging blows with Maderna opening a cut on Oosthuizen’s nose.
Oosthuizen looked to have seized control in the fifth round as he fed off the crowd’s cheer of “Tommy”, but Maderna refused to buckle under the hostile crowd’s pressure, delivering straight blows of his own to the champion’s face.
Maderna’s stinging counterpunches further gaped the champion’s cut, as the fight went towards the last couple of rounds. Maderna kept up the pressure in round 10, but Oosthuizen was not to be denied in his home country.
The round saw a momentum-swing as the “Tommy” cheers continued with the champion delivering jabs to a tiring Maderna, prompting a “come on Tommy, take him to Argentina” chirp from one of the supporters.
Round 10 proved to be the last of the more entertaining rounds of the bout as it slowed down in the closing two rounds, with both fighters seeing it off – and Oosthuizen successfully defending his title.
Hekkie “The Hexecutioner” Budler retained his title after making quick work of opponent Hugo Verchelli, forcing referee Stan Christodoulou to put a halt 2.29 into round four.
Budler unleashed a surprising blow in round one, which momentarily put Vechelli on the floor in their WBA Interim/IBO World Minimum Weight title bout.
The Argentinian challenger recovered and exchanged punches with The Hexecutioner in a more evenly-contested round two.
Budler began to dominate towards the closing stages of round three, pinning Verchelli against the ropes with aggressive rights-and-lefts.
The domination continued into round four with Budler delivering damaging blows in quick succession which put Verchelli to the floor several times before referee Christodoulou put an end to the fight.
Other results:
Junior Flyweight – 6 rounds: Thabiso Moorosi vs. Thabang Ramagole. The bout was a draw in the sixth round where Thabiso Moorosi scored 59, 57, 57 and Thabang Ramagole scored 56, 57, 57.
Gauteng Junior Lightweight Title – 10 rounds: Thembani Hobyani (RSA) vs Koos Sibiya (RSA). The bout was won by Koos Sibiya in the tenth round with a score of 97, 96, 97. Thembani Hobyani scored 94, 94, 93.
Junior Welterweight Title – eight rounds: Nkosinathi Tshinavhe vs. Adam de Moor. The bout was won in the first round (2.41:00) through a KO by de Moor.
