26.09.07 – By Colin Nathan-Orient Theatre-East London – Former Undefeated South African Jnr. Lightweight boxing Champion, and current WBC International lightweight Champion, Ali ”Rush Hour” Funeka (61,0kg) went through a routine title defense of his WBC International title by knocking out Benjamin Sollano (60,20) in the 4th round.
This was the second time that Sollano has boxed in this country, the first when he come and got stopped in 4 rounds against Mzonke Fana who is the current IBF Jnr. Lightweight “World” Champion.
Rated no.6 in the current WBC “World” ranking Funeka used the first round to feel out his opponent by using a crisp jab and a good follow up right hand straight down the middle.
The 2nd round saw Funeka still using his jab to great effect to keep the
Sollano at bay, towards the end of the round he dropped a good right hand in which Sollano took well, definitely a Funeka round.
The 3rd round saw the fight turning into a slight bore with Funeka being quite content to box behind the jab and sneak through a right hand, towards the end of the round saw Sollano take the fight to Funeka and coming off second best with him again, being caught with another sharp right hand as he tried to land a left hook.
The 4th round it was all over (As Funeka predicted in his interview) with him backing Sollano in the corner, and landing a sharp right hand counter over the top with Sollano trying to land with a left hook of his own, Funeka calmly took half a step back and landed with the right hand that ended the fight there and then.
A good performance by Funeka who needs tougher opposition before challenging for “World” honours. His record goes to 29(24kos)-1-2, and Sollano drops to 12(9kos)-7.
On the under-card Hot unbeaten East London flyweight Zolani Tete, 19years of age (50,65kg) won the vacant WBF Flyweight by beating Vicky Tahumil, 33years (50,60kg) from Indonesia, on a 4th round TKO, when Tahumil failed to come out of the corner to start the 4th round, due accidental clash of heads. Both fighters fighting out of the southpaw stance.
Coming out for the first round it was Tete who took the fight to the more experienced Tahumil and did a good job of backing up him up landing with a few lead left hands.
Going into the 2nd round it was Tete, who started connecting nicely with his jab with an occasional right hook followed by a straight left hand. It was definitely Tete who was finding his range and Tahumil looking out of sorts trying to figure out a fight plan against a fighter who was showing good boxing skills and using good body shots to slow Tahumil down.
The 3rd saw much of the same with Tete dominating the round until mid-way through the round, Tahumil threw and missed with a right hook and their heads came together. A cut appeared under the right eye of Tahumil. Going back to his corner at the end of the 3rd round, Tahumil instructed his corner to take off his gloves and you could hear in broken English with him saying that it was “Not Fair, Not Fair”.
In my view Tahumil definitely could have continued but took the easy way out and basically quit.
A bit of a hallow victory, but never the less, South Africa has another “`World” Champion.
Tete, who is a talent, goes to 8-0(with 8kos), Tahumil drops to 32-2-2(12kos)