Wilbeforce Shihepo retained his WBO Africa super middleweight title after an eighth round TKO over Daniel Wanyonyi in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The end came towards the end of the eighth round when Wanyonyi went down to a Shihepo hook to the head. The blow seemed to damage his eye and after being counted out, the ring doctor immediately got into the ring to examine his eye, but Wanyonyi later seemed to be fine as he walked around the ring, acknowledging applause from the crowd.
Shihepo started in explosive style as he put Wanyonyi down with a hook within 20 seconds of the first round. The Kenyan managed to beat the count but Shihepo was all over him and put Wanyonyi down with another hook towards the end of the round. The Kenyan however once again got up to see out the round.
The intensity however soon died down and by the third round the boxers regularly clinched to slow the fight down, and at a stage frustrated fans shouting at them to box.
In the fourth round Wanyonyi rocked Shihepo with some sharp hooks, but Shihepo fought back and in the fifth got a warning from the referee after hitting Wanyoni on the ground after the Kenyan had slipped.
There was not much more action until the eight round when Shihepo put Wanyonyi down with a hook, as the Kenyan was counted out 2:20 into the eighth round.
Shihepo’s record now stands at 21 wins and seven defeats, while Wanyonyi’s record stands at 18 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws.
In the main supporting bout, Martin Haikali beat Peter Malakia on a unanimous points decision over 12 rounds to win the vacant WBO Africa lightweight title. Haikali, who was the aggressor throughout, won the fight 120-109, 119-112, 119-110.
Sacky Shikukutu successfully defended his WBO Africa Interim welterweight title with a unanimous points victory over Sherif Kasonga of the DRC, with the judges scoring it 119-110, 117-112, 118-110 in Shikukutu’s favour.
Both boxers gave the crowd good value for their money, slugging it out on numerous occasions in the centre of the ring. Shikukutu was mainly the aggressor but Kasonga gave as good as he got, and both boxers landed some big blows in an exciting contest.
Abmerk Shidjuu won the WBO Africa flyweight title after narrowly beating Pathias Chisenga of Zambia on points over 12 rounds, with the judges scoring it 114-114, 115-113, 116-112 in Shidjuu’s favour.
The results of other fights were as follows:
Jeremia Nakathila beat Tebego Kagiso (Botswana) on a third round TKO.
Gomotsang Gaasite (Botswana) beat Emmanuel Mungandjela on points over 4 rounds.
Johannes Simon beat Tefo Letshikgwane (Botswana) on points over 4 rounds.
Mike Shonena beat Moabi Mothiba (Botswana) on a third round TKO.
Jafet Utoni beat Peter Pelane (Botswana) on points over 4 rounds.
