Sikho ‘Sequence’ Nqothole wins the World Boxing Association Pan African junior bantamweight title

Professional boxer Sikho ‘Sequence’ Nqothole (23) is the new World Boxing Association Pan African junior bantamweight champion.

The boxer of Alan Toweel Boxing Gym in Linden, who also trains at Bryanston Fight Club, secured the title after winning the championship fight against the Tanzanian, Sunday Kiwale (33).

After fighting 12 rounds at the Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Centre, Durban, on 27 June, Nqothole had convinced all the judges of his supremacy and won by unanimous decision.

“It was the first time I fought 12 rounds and I felt good afterwards, I was not tired,” he said.

“It was not easy because that guy was strong and he came to win. My game plan was to stay away from him and punch and jab, punch and jab when I had the chance.”

Nqothole went into the fight with six knockout wins and no losses in his nine-fight record against an experienced opponent who had 13 wins and four draws in 26 professional fights

He had wanted another knockout win but told himself to relax and try to wear Kiwale down. “I would hit him, then give him a little time to recover, and then hit him again. I controlled him with my pace.”

In the end, his technique and game plan won the judges’ approval, and the crowd’s approval also, said Nqothole’s trainer, Alan Toweel.

“The people there really enjoyed watching Sikho,” Toweel said.

“The crowd likes two kinds of boxers: the one who knocks out the opponent and the one who shows great technique and is good in both attack and defence.”

Toweel hopes to organise championship fights for Nqothole to defend as early as October, so he can move up the world rankings and one day be eligible for a world title fight.

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