30.01.04 – By Willie Saayman: Former SA jnr Middleweigh champion, William Gare did his homework well and stood in front of Virgil Kalakoda in a toe to toe battle, outpointing a battered and bloodied Kalakoda over 10 rounds in their contest at The Dockside Restaurant & Nightclub in Cape Town, Tuesday evening, the 27th of January.
Gare, whom lost his SA National title controversially against Vincent Vuma in December 2002, only had one fight last year when he unsuccessfully challenged new SA Champion, Tshepo Mashego, but it didn’t look as if Gare was in any way ring rusty – he took the fight to Kalakoda and used all his experience to stay away from Kalakoda’s right hook to the body which has sent may opponents to dreamland. He continued to put pressure on Kalakoda and after 10 bruising rounds, Gare, the eventual winner on a split decision. But at ringside many do believe Kalakoda should have won as he did put a lot of hard work into the fight the first 6 rounds, the latter 4 rounds Gare clearly the better boxer.
Gare’s record now reads (28) 18-9-0 (3) and is both the former SA National Jr Middleweight and former WBC International Middleweight champion. Kalakoda is the reigning WBN World Light Middleweight champion, he also held the Intercontinental title of the WBN, as well as being the former IBC World Super Welterweight and IBF Africa Middleweight champions, his record now reads (29) 24-4-1 (16). Although defeated and full praise to his victor, Kalakoda will be back and is scheduled to appear early April in Lagos, Nigeria.
But stealing the show, young Namibian, Gotlieb Shileka (7) 7-0-0 (5) whom outpointed the more experienced Dieudonne Kontonang from the Cameroon over 6 rounds in the Welterweight division. Kontonang, with a record now of (10) 5-5-0 (2) last year took on former WBC International champion, Godfrey Nyakana from Uganda in a catchweight bout, loosing on a 9th round TKO. Twice he met with Virgil Kalakoda, loosing the 1st by an early KO and then went the distance in challenging Kalakoda for the IBF Africa Middleweight title, Kontonang also went the distance with former SA Champion, Pumzile Madikane -the Cameroon is also a former National Amateur champion and a Bronze medalist at the All-Africa games. Shileka, a 3 times All-Africa Amateur champion threw a tremendous amount of body shots which was hurting Kontonang and at times it looked as if he was going to succumbed to the many punches but somehow he kept on going forward, but the Namibian cleverly moved, jab and was just the far better fighter of the two.
Shileka hails from Oranjemund in Namibia and made his professional debut in December 2001, stopping Jacob Ndlovu. In his last contest in December 2003, he outpointed fellow Namibian Kanime Kanime over 10 rounds. Shileka surely a World champion in the making and hopefully now that has featured a 2nd time on Euro Sport, international promotors will start taking notice of him.
Reigning IBF Intercontinental Africa Light Heavyweight champion, Commando Kalekuzi had to pull out all stops to outpoint South African, Jongi Kamko over 6 rounds. Kalekuzi hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo now boasts a record of (26) 23-2-1 (19) and he is more than ready to meet the top boxers in the World.
Former SA Amamteur champion Bongani Siwisa, 18 years old, made his pro-debut, outpointing Vusumuzi Pyia over rounds in the Bantamweight division.
PROMOTORS: STEVE KALAKODA (CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA) –
SK BOXING PRODUCTIONS
JC COURREGES (PROFESSIONAL PROMOTIONS)
MIAMI, USA
MATCHMAKER: WILLIE SAAYMAN(CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA)