Sanders Knocked Out, Silence roars

http://www.supersport.co.za/boxing/article.aspx?id=242380&headline=Silence roars; Corrie KO`d

Silence Mabuza turned on the power to stop Eden Sonsona but for Corrie Sanders the lights went out at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, on Saturday night.

Sanders, the former WBO and WBU heavyweight champion, made a comeback at the age of 42 and lasted only 2 minutes and 41 seconds against SA heavyweight champion Osborne Machimane.

With former world champion Mike Tyson watching from ringside, Sanders went down from a left hook to the side of the rib cage and he waited, sensibly, for referee Jaap van Nieuwenhuizen to stop counting before he got up.

In the main bout, Mabuza stopped Sonsona right at the end of the eighth round in the first defence of his IBO bantamweight belt.

The 19-year-old from the Philippines was dropped by a body punch in the fifth round. He stayed down for a count of nine before getting up.

Mabuza seemed to take a breather for the next two rounds, allowing the teenager to get in a few shots of his own. These, however, only showed his complete lack of punching power.

Another body shot as the bell went for the end of the eighth persuaded Sonsona that there was no future in extending his challenge.

He indicated to referee Alonso that he had had enough and the bout was stopped right there, without a count.

Mabuza, having won just about every round, also landed enough shots to the head to prove that his young opponent should not have been given an opportunity to challenge for the title; not with a record of 14-2, with 3 stoppages.

The 30-year-old champion, who improved to 21-2; 17, looked sharp enough to fight his way into the big league of his division.

Even though his last fight had been in May last year, when he stopped Mbwana Matumla in the fifth round, he punched crisply and with authority.

However, his opponent's lack of experience, class and power certainly contributed to Mabuza's good performance on the Golden Gloves Promotions bill.

Sanders, showing no rippling muscles in his 108.62kg body, will probably retire with his record at 42-3; 31 after one of those sad comebacks that have been part of boxing for more than a century.

He was in no shape to fight six rounds, let alone fit enough to take on the 29-year-old national champion, who came in at 112.14 kg.

Machimane may never become a world champion but he will be able to tell his grandchildren one day of the night Mike Tyson watched him knock out a former world champion in the first round.

On the undercard, lightweight Grant Fourie stopped Sheriff Ramanyimi in the second round and junior featherweight Takalani Ndlovu did the same to Raymond Sermona, only in the fourth round.

Hekkie Budler beat Sibisisi Twani over six rounds at junior flyweight.