Cape Town's new champ
May 19, 2003 Edition -1
Sports staff
Cape Town's latest boxing champion, Sithembile Kibiti, returned to a hero's welcome in Nyanga yesterday.
Singing, whistling and hooting yesterday greeted his arrival after a flight from East London where he had dethroned the South African champion, Khulile Makeba, on Friday night at the Orient Theatre on the beachfront.
Kibiti, 24, who was the No 1 challenger for Makeba's mini-flyweight title, knocked down the champion twice before referee Alen Matakane stopped the fight in the 10th round.
The result was the biggest boxing upset of the year and has put Kibiti in line for a possible shot at the World Boxing Council's strawweight title where Makeba was the ranked just behind champion Jose Aguirre. Makeba had been ranked third by the WBA and fifth by the WBO, which emphasises the significance of Kibiti's victory. Strawweight and mini-flyweight (47.62kg) is the lightest division in professional boxing.
A fight between Kibiti and Makeba had been brewing since last year when the reigning champion appeared to be dismissive of the Capetonian's ability. "I will even fight him in Cape Town - and beat him there," Makeba had remarked at the time.
But on Friday night, Kibiti was in charge from the start, following instructions to the letter from his corner and never looking like losing.
Kibiti has had 14 fights since turning professional in 1997, having lost only once. Friday night's win was his 10th inside the distance. It was Makeba's second defeat in 20 fights.
A Kaizer Chiefs fan who went to school in Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape where he matriculated in 1996, Kibiti said he would probably defend his title against Stephen Msimanga of Gauteng, who is ranked second in South Africa.
