Convincing points win for SA fighter
Filipino Florante Condes flew into the tempest that hit East London this week, but it was a breeze compared to the storm he ran into inside the Orient Theatre ring on Friday night ? a homegrown typhoon called Nkosinathi Joyi.
The South African dominated from the opening bell to score a shut-out points victory over ?Little Pacquiao?, who came here with a formidable record. The three judges, all South African, scored it in Joyi?s favour by margins of 120- 107, 120-107 and 119-108.
The win earns Joyi the right to challenge for the IBF strawweight crown, held by Mexico?s Raul Garcia. Promoter Branco Milenkovic estimated that fight would probably happen early next year, saying he was confident he would stage it in East London.
Thinking ahead, one has to wonder what Garcia can possibly do to derail the unbeaten Joyi, who improved his record to 20 wins, 15 by stoppage. After all, Garcia won his title from Condes by a split decision in Mexico. Condes even dropped Garcia. On Friday Joyi didn?t lose a minute of a round.
Former champion Condes, who dropped to 23-5-1, arrived in the ring with far more top-level experience ? a factor I believed would be critical ? how wrong I was.
At 1.68m, Joyi stood nine centimetres taller than his opponent and he used his reach advantage brilliantly, offering the Filipino few chances to get through while landing with a tsunami of punches, as well as two accidental low blows and a head-butt.
Joyi, driven to the ring on the back of a motorcycle, roared into action in the opening round after Condes had landed the first punch of the fight, an exploratory right jab to the head. That was about as good as it got for Condes, who spent the night retreating or trapped on the ropes trying to avoid the leather bombs flying in his direction.
Joyi attacked the body early on and that ploy paid dividends quickly, sapping Condes of his power.
By the time the visitor landed anything of note, a few rapid right hooks in the 10th round, he lacked the strength that had helped him stop 20 of his previous foes.
Condes, realising he needed a knockout, tried throwing punches with more venom in the last three rounds, but he got caught by a right in the final round that briefly sent him to the canvas.
This was the first time Joyi had been 12 rounds since March 2005, having dispatched his last seven opponents inside the distance. Joyi desperately needed ring time and he got it against Condes, who admittedly spent most of the night looking to survive.
Joyi will realise he can?t expect to blow away everyone, but equally, he knows he can surely handle anyone in the strawweight class.
And given the stature of his opponent, he can lay a strong claim to being South Africa?s best pound-for-pound boxer at the moment.
Roll on Garcia.
