Bryan Thysse always spoke about legacy.
On Saturday, he burnished that legacy by joining his brother Brandon and late father Andre as South African champion after a wild nine-rounder against gritty Michael Head.
Topping the “Destiny’s Decree” card at Emperors Palace, Thysse captured the vacant light heavyweight belt by wearing Head down, punishing him with his right hand and setting a frantic pace. Head was too brave for his own good, boring in and whaling away. He admitted later that he didn’t have the talent to match Thysse, but what he lacked in talent he more than made up for in heart.
He was constantly off the pace, forced to cover up, but he knows no other way and tried his utmost to throw Thysse off his rhythm. Trouble is, Thysse had the tools to pursue his challenger and his body attack slowed him and wore him down.
Head was taking a beating through round five, but somehow he hung in, brave but battling. By the eighth, he looked done. A series of left hands and right crosses stung him and he took an eight-count.
The end was near. Thysse, determined to apply the coup de grace, went after Head, found his mark early and pummelled him into TKO submission in the ninth.
For good measure, he also won “Rising Titans” honours, emerging the best from the four-man event.
MALAJIKA PUTS SALUDAR ON THE PAIN TRAIN
In arguably the performance of the night, hot prospect Charlton Malajika dispatched veteran Froilan Saludar in four savage rounds.
Undeterred by the Filipino’s credentials, “Baby Pain” marched him down and sustained pressure for as long as the fight endured. Producing the finest performance of his 10-fight career, the local bantamweight unleashed his power game in the fourth. First he trapped Saludar in the corner and landed several heavy shots to the head. Saludar’s response was modest and when he copped right hand after right hand the action was smartly waved off, giving Malajika a TKO win.
He marches on, defiant, dominant and determined to follow his brother Ricardo as world champion.
ALBERTS CRUSHES SHITANA IN ONE
On a night when several statements were made, few were as big as that of heavyweight Juan Alberts.
Relatively trim at 111kg, he still carried too much ballast and power for Kareb Shitana of Namibia, who was brutally put away in the first round.
Showing an encouraging turn of speed, the unbeaten South African found his mark early, his right cross doing its job. Hurt Shitana was given an eight-count, allowing him to continue, but another succession of right hands condemned him to an early TKO defeat.
Given Shitana’s record and Alberts’ form, this ranks as his finest win yet. He put his punches together well and showed the sort of composure that will stand him in good stead as the show rolls on.
KADIMA GETS STATEMENT FIRST-ROUND WIN
Meanwhile, not to be outdone, locally-based Congolese heavyweight Jose Kadima lived up to the hype by blitzing Malawi’s Limbani Lano in one round.
Significantly heavier, Kadima got stuck in early and heavy. An early left hook signalled his intentions, but it was a big right hand that caught Lano. He barely survived the eight count and when Kadima moved in for the finish, the white towel of surrender did its job.
MLATA – REMEMBER THE NAME
In earlier action, a potential new star emerged in the shape of Cape Town’s Khaya Mlata, who was crowned WBC Youth junior featherweight champion after eking out a decision against Ardy Katompa.
He won a split decision by scores of 73-77 and 76-75 (twice).
It was a terrific match-up and for the first half of the fight things were on fairly even keel. Katompa made Mlata work hard, but faded down the stretch.
HENSBERG MOVES TO 2-0
In the show opener, super middleweight Jared Hensberg was made to work hard by Lawrence Chiyangwa in their four rounder. Despite having a slight edge throughout, he had to be satisfied with a split decision win, triumphing by scores of 37-39, 40-36 and 39-37.
