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If showboating could win a boxing march Renson “Bagdad” Hobyani would have woken up on Saturday morning as the new South African super middleweight champion.
The Limpopo-born fighter lost the fight in the later rounds on points, giving his opponent Rowan “Braveheart” Campbell the vacant title at Emperors Palace on Friday night.
The judges scored the fight unanimously with Ben Ncapayi scoring it 114-113 and Tony Nyangiwe recording it as 115-113. The third judge, Naville Hots, granted Campbell a five-point margin in 116-111.
The much anticipated Golden Gloves boxing promotions box-and-dine tournament featured two South African title fights, the other being the South African middleweight interim title.
Campbell brought the fight to his opponent as he kept on coming forward. However, Hobyane’s long arms kept him at bay in the early rounds.
Hobyane’s in-ring theatrics eventually proved him to be overconfident – despite a record of eight wins and two losses. On the other side of the coin, the perfect opponent to Campbell’s still perfect record saw him enter the ring undefeated with seven unanswered wins.
During the fight one would swear that Hobyani was posing for the cameras – every big punch was followed by a smile mocking his opponent and his corner and, even at times, acknowledging one of his supporters from the crowd.
Hobyane seemed to control the fight in those early rounds with his conservative style of boxing, not giving his opponent the time to throw the big hit that seemed to frustrate Campbell.
Hobyane refused to take a seat after the first and second round and Ayanda Matiti — of Xaba promotions — eventually instructed him to take advantage of the breaks and sit down. Through all the drama and theatrics Hobyane kept throwing the left jab, which seemed to confuse Campbell.
But Campbell’s energy was seemingly limitless and he gave no indication of relenting.
He was ready to go the full distance and kept coming forward until he finally got a breakthrough with the right hand, sending the now-exhausted, Hobyane to the canvas in the last seconds of round 10. At this point it was a done deal for the undefeated Campbell as Hobyane wilted.
In the other title fight of the night, Wade Groth gave an fiery performance, winning the South African middleweight interim title against Wynand Mulder.
Referee Simon Mokadi stopped the fight in round six at two minutes and 22 seconds.
Groth, however, will have to wait until it is decided what will happen to current middleweight champion Barend van Rooyen – who was banned for two years after failing a doping test – to see if he becomes the fully fledged champion.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s most promising junior featherweight prospect, Ayabonga Sonjica, put a stop to Deon Mbumbana in one minute and 60 seconds in the very first round.
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