By Alexey Sukachev
South Africa - In a battle of hard-hitting cruiserweights, Congolese native Ilunga Makabu (15-1, 14 KOs) showed his advantage in punching power against American contender Eric Fields, finishing him off with a large single left hook midst into the fifth round. WBC #4 Makabu retained his WBC Silver cruiserweight title, which he earned a month and a half ago against Ukrainian Dmytro Kucher.
Fields (22-2, 16 KOs), 31, was riding high on a five-and-a-half year long winning streak. He started fairly well, using his jab to keep Makabu at bay and being aggressive on occasions. The Congolese fighter came back strong in the second to socre more than the American import. In a wild third stanza, both fighters were repeatedly hurt but it was Makabu who got the better of those exchanges. The African fighter continued to demonstrate his skills in the fourth, while Fields was fighting on wobbly legs at moments. Both boxers exchanged verbal jabs before a real jab and then a left hook landed for the local fighter.
Official time of stoppage was 1:59. Makabu is now 4-0, 3 KOs, this year and is expected to get even higher.
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Light heavyweight power puncher Ryno Liebenberg (13-0, 9 KOs) made a very short work of unheralded Argentinean import Gabriel Arturo Ramirez (13-5-1, 7 KOs), dropping him twice en route to a quick, first-round TKO. The 29-year old South African immediately went after his opponent and soon rocked him with a couple of shots in the centre of the ring, with his right hand being the decisive weapon. He went on to send Ramirez down at the ropes. The Argentinean rose on unsteady legs only to be dismissed a few moments later after yet another combination by the South African, which sent him down with his nose bleeding. Referee Thabo Spampool started the count but Ramirez's corner entered the ring to stop the contest.
Time of stoppage was 1:58 of the first round. Liebenberg is the new WBC International Silver light heavyweight titlist.
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Former IBF/IBO strawweight champion Nkosinathi "Mabere" Joyi showed honorable poise and power in his light flyweight debut, submissing durable but well overmatched Filipino WBC International champion Benezer "Bulldozer" Alolod (12-5-4, 2 KOs) within nine rounds of one-sided action.
WBA #9, IBF #11 and WBO #14 rated minimumweight was in face of the champion from round one. Joyi weakened his body with hard body shots, forcing to wilt under his considerable power. Alolod valiantly fought back but his power wasn't enough to trouble the South African. With each passed round, the fighter from Philippines was taking more and more punishment, specifically with right hooks and left body blows of the southpaw former champion. Rounds seven and eight were so one-sided that they could easily been scored as 10-8 stanzas. Round eight was all the same up until the moment, when Alolod ate a massive counter hook to be put down for the count.
Time of stoppage was 2:48. Joyi was listed 23-2, 16 KOs, by the BoxRec, coming in, and 24-2, 16 KOs by the broadcasting channel. He was just 1-2 in his last three fights with losses to then-IBF champion Mario Rodriguez and fellow countryman Hekkie Budler.
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