Sifama’s cowardice costs him title as Ntsele romps home

By Mesuli Zifo

XOLA Sifama’s boxing has always been blighted by cowardice even though he somewhat appeared to have overcome that since he began his South African flyweight title reign.

But at Orient Theatre in East London, SA on Sunday that weakness reared its ugly head once again in his botched title defence against a rampant Doctor Ntsele when he could not even capitalize on his moments en route to surrendering the crown by a split points decision.

Sifama, who appeared to have turned a new leaf after the death of his chief trainer Welsh Mnguni in October 2009, again slipped back to his old habit of refusing to go for broke when the chips are down.

The split decision against him was even generous considering that his best rounds were at least three when he shook a tiring Ntsele with good right hands and left hooks and appeared to be just a few punches away from turning the fight on its head.

But the coward in Sifama would just kick in and instead of going for the kill, he would just hug the visibly hurt opponent to give him a reprieve for yet another attack.

Sifama’s blues started when Ntsele caught him with a big right hand in the first round and after tasting the power of the challenger, he fought on his bicycle for virtually the rest of the fight save the rounds when Ntsele took a breather.

And Sifama is a master of survival or perhaps Mnguni’s spirit is indeed always with him as at times he appeared ready to wilt under Ntsele’s constant pressure but would just find that one trick to pull himself out of the woods.

With former IBF junior featherweight champion and Manny Pacquiao’s victim Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in his corner, Ntsele kept pushing hard even though he did not do anything especial but his work ethic was winning him the fight.   

He was simply outworking Sifama in every department and had to pay a few costs along the way as Sifama always threw random punches hoping to catch the 24-year-old champion coming in.

And when Sifama could not put off Ntsele, he resorted to holding and paid dearly for that offence when he was belatedly deducted a point in the sixth round.

By the eighth round the packed crowd was already chanting Ntsele as a new champion as Sifama appeared to be fighting for survival.

As if spurred on by the crowd’s chant, Sifama suddenly found new life in the ninth round when he nailed Ntsele with a succession of big right and left hooks, buckling his legs and seemingly turning the tide.

For the first time in the fight, a defeatist attitude crept into Ntsele’s eyes but once again Sifama failed to take advantage of the situation as he allowed the challenger back into the fight in the following round.

But Sifama appeared to be the fresher of the two as he kept peppering Ntsele with well timed punches which completely closed his right eye.

The fight was there for the taking as Ntsele seemingly had nothing left in his gas tank besides his fighting spirit but Sifama’s failure to take advantage of the situation cost him his title.

Judge Siya Vabaza surprisingly saw Sifama retaining his title with a 118-113 margin but was thankfully overruled by Allan Matakane who appreciated Ntsele’s work ethic with a 115-113 and Andile Matika who scored the fight 116-113.