Ali Funeka won the vacant WBC Intercontinental lightweight title at the Orient Theatre in East London on Saturday night when he knocked out Filipino Dexter Delada after 2 minutes 19 seconds of the second round. The South African who holds the national junior lightweight title was having his first fight in the lightweight division. Funeka (61.15kg) using the first round to test the southpaw Delada (60.25kg), showed outstanding hand speed and good balance. However, in the second round Funeka picked his shots before landing a flurry of punches as he backed up Delada to the ropes before landing an overhand right to the top of the head that dropped to him to his knees where he took the ten count from referee Alfred Buqwana. Delada’s record drops to 14-3 (10) and Funeka ups his record to 25-1-2 (21). The judges were S.Mbini, S. Vabaza and S. Maphangula all from South Africa.
——————————————————————————– Other results: Junior flyweight: Zolani Tete bt Andile Solani, tko 1 (1 min 39 s); Light: Luzuko Phike bt Anele Mgoboli, pts 6; ( 56-55,and 57-55 twice), Junior bantam : Unathi Gqokoma bt Thembalani Shushwane, pts 6; Mini fly: Zukisan1 Kwayiba bt Zandisile Twani; tko 2 (1:02); Fly: Simphiwe Mabona bt Thembalani Maphuma, pts 6 (59-57, 58-57 and 59-55).
