29th July, 2015. Pretoria, South Africa: Heavy: Danie Venter (20-7) W TKO 2 Vusumzi Mlindwa (3-5-1). Heavy: Khayeni Hlungwane (6-11) W TKO 1 Flo Simba (13-5). Super Welter: Hansie Carr (9-0) W KO 1 William Bankisi (2-3).
Danie Venter vs. Vusumzi Mlindwa
Rumours of Venter’s retirement proved erroneous as he returned to action with an easy win. Fighting at heavyweight the tall South African found the blubbery Mlindwa an easy target and he was dishing out some serious punishment when the referee stopped the fight in the second round. The 36-year-old 6’3” (194cm) former WBFed and South African cruiser champion was having his first fight since being beaten in nine rounds by Olympic and World Championships gold medallist Olek Usyk ( he beat Artur Beterbiev in both tournaments) in December. He is rated No 2 cruiser by BSA but has some weight to shed as he was 198 ¾ lbs (90kgs) for Usyk but 233 ¾ lbs (106kgs) for this fight. Now 4 losses in a row for the grossly overweight Mlindwa who was BSA No 5.
Khayeni Hlungwane vs. Flo Simba
Difficult to know if Simba has a future as a boxer after being blown away by practically the first punch thrown by Hlungwane. Once world rated the DRC “Demolition Man” had faded away after suffering back-to-back first round losses to Thabiso Mchunu in 2012. It was later found that he was suffering from the severe effects of diabetes at the time. His manager Brian Mitchell, trainer Harold Volbrecht and promoter Rodney Berman stood by him and after 31 months out he returned with a win in April this year and was rated No 6 heavy by BSA. Hlungwane, the BSA No 4 cruiser, was 2-8 in his last 10 fights, had never fought in anything except 4 and 6 round fights had not fought for nine months and was giving away 31lbs in weight. Difficult to find any positives for Simba in there.
Hansie Carr vs. William Bankisi
Carr looks one to watch. He knocked out Bankisi inside a round to register his seventh win by KO/TKO and his third first round victory in a row as he gets back in the swing. This is his second win after being inactive for 20 months. Bankisi way out of his class.
