By Ron Jackson

Having his third crack at winning the South African welterweight title, Mziwoxolo Ndwayana was most impressive in scoring an eight round technical knockout win over former welterweight champion Shaun Ness, for the vacant title at the Portuguese Hall in the south of Johannesburg over the past weekend.

The title became vacant after Thulani Mbenge won the vacant IBO welterweight in June this year.

In previous challenges for the SA title Ndwayana (65.50kg) was stopped in five rounds by Tsiko Mulovhedzi and lost points to Mbenge.

Ndwayana who became the first fighter from Grahamstown to win a national title was in control from the opening bell.

The southpaw Ness was cut over the eye in the fifth round as Ndwayana scored with shots to the head and body in the sixth and seventh rounds.

It was a badly beaten Ness who returned to his corner at the bell for the seventh round.

Coming out at the bell for the eighth round Ness (66.50kg) had nothing left and it came as no surprise when referee Ben Ncapayi stepped in the call the fight off and crown Ndwayana the new champion.

Ndwayana improved his record to 17-4-2; 11 and Ness’s record dropped to 11-3-2; 5.

The unused judges were Neville Hotz, Simon Mokadi and Tony Nyangiwe.

MALINDI WINS VACANT S.A. BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE

On the same bill Ronald Malindi (53.42kg) won the vacant South African bantamweight title with a 12 round points victory over Mbulelo Dyani (53.50kg).

Malindi improved his record to 14-0; 9 and according to Boxrec, Dyani’s record dropped to 5-3-2; 3.