Local boxing hero Tsiko "Cruel junior" Mulovhedzi managed to knock out Ali Funeka in the fifth round to win the IBO welterweight title in East London's ICC Hall last Friday.
Mulovhedzi was clearly too strong for Funeka, as he dropped him with vicious combinations three times in round three and once in round five before referee Deon Dwarte eventually rescued the 38-year-old Funeka.
Mulovhedzi dominated four of the five rounds, although Funeka gave him some memorable punches that left him with an open wound above his left eye. The fight, which was scheduled over 12 rounds, ended in the fifth round as Funeka did not respond to the bell signalling the start of the next round. The referee opted to stop the fight as Funeka was not able to continue.
Mulovhedzi approached the fight aggressively, throwing killer punches from all angles. That resulted in Funekas' falling down in the second round. Mulovhezi indicated that he was prepared to go on with the fight after the referee had counted.
"My intention was to hurt Funeka badly and end his career because he humiliated me before our fight, calling me an amateur," said Mulovhedzi after the fight. His anger was apparently fuelled by remarks by the Funeka camp prior to the match, stating that Tsiko relied on muthito win fights.
"This boy will go places. He is dedicated to his trade, and I see a lot of potential in him. He is the next Mohammed Ali in the boxing industry," said his 103-year-old father, former Musangwe champion Ratshilume "Cruel" Mulovhedzi.