By Ron Jackson

In an outstanding performance, Azinga Fuzile completely dominated and outclassed the former two-time IBF junior-lightweight champion Malcolm Klassen, who held up his hands and quit after 51 seconds into the fourth round, to retain his IBF Continental junior-lightweight title, at a packed to capacity Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday afternoon.

The vastly more experienced 36-year-old Klassen (58.80kg) was never in the fight and midway through the first round the classy and slick moving Azinga (58.80kg) dropped him with a right-left combination from his southpaw stance. However, Klassen (34-9-2, 18 KOs) was not hurt and managed to survive the round.

Using the perimeter of the ring and with his movement and superior hand-speed the 22-year-old Azinga (12-0, 7 KOs) dominated the second round as the slow-moving and rather ponderous Klassen was unable to get into the fight.

In round three Azinga continued to dominate and dropped Klassen flat on his back with an uppercut. Once again the disconsolate and rather dazed Klassen beat the count but already the writing was in the wall that he would not see out the 12 rounds.

In round four the now supremely confident Azinga came out from his corner throwing right and left combinations before Klassen said “No mass” and threw up his hands in the air and turned his back on the champion, as the referee stepped in to wave the fight off. This proved to be one fight too many for a once classy fighter.

The unused judges were Sylvia Mokaile, Clifford Mbele and Simon Xamlashe.

MPONTSHANE RETAINS SA JUNIOR-LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Phila Mpontshana (58.90kg) retained his South African junior-lightweight title with a unanimous 12 rounds points decision over the No. 4 ranked Anthony Moloisane (58.17kg). The scores were 119-108 and 118-101 twice which were possibly not a true reflection of the fight as the southpaw challenger did enough to shade a few rounds.

However, in a poor fight there was no doubt that the 28-year-old Mpontshana was a worthy winner.

Mpontshana improved his record to 15-1, 7 KOs, and the 27-year-old Maloisane saw his record drop to 10-3-1, 7 KOs.

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In a clash for the vacant ABU junior-flyweight title Sivenathi Nontshinga stopped Tiisetso Modisadive on a ninth round technical knockout. The time was 2:51.

In a flyweight contest Luyanda Ntwanambi stopped Morapedi Khotle in the second round.