Sport

IN PICTURES: Knockout Chaos promises to take boxing by storm

Michael Sherman|Published

Aquila Boxing Promotions’ Knockout Chaos series in Sandton introduces a ‘Knockout Clock’ cash incentive to encourage aggressive fighting, with bonuses decreasing by R5,000 each round after the first. Seen here (l-r): Gary van Staden, Peter Smith, Kevin Lerena. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL

Image: Michael Sherman/IOL

While many fights in boxing can end up being drawn out, tactically defensive displays— a new innovation from Aquila Boxing Promotions in their Knockout Chaos series starting this weekend in Sandton—promises to shape up the sport.

The series, aptly named Knockout Chaos, offers a cash incentive called the ‘Knockout Clock’ for a knockout (KO). If the knockout comes in round one, the fighter will receive a R30,000 bonus. Every round after that, the bonus will decrease by R5,000.

It means the fighters will have a huge temptation to come out firing if they want to bag the biggest bonus possible.

Though some of the more experienced fighters, like 38-year-old Thabiso Mchunu, say he won’t look for a knockout against Namibian Kareb Shitana in their cruiserweight bout.

In fact, most of the boxers shied away from saying they will go for the KO, especially in round one.

Meanwhile, youngster Alexander Meyer believed his opponent, Msawakhe Mncwabe, would “obviously come out looking for the knockout in round one, so it will be more about mindset.”

Knockout Chaos 1: Official Fight Card

Date: Saturday Venue: The Galleria Events Venue, Sandton

  • Fight 8 (Heavyweight): Keaton Gomes vs. Youssouf Mwanza [6 Rounds]
  • Fight 7 (Welterweight): Kaine Fourie vs. Bilal Johnson [6 Rounds]
  • Fight 6 (Cruiserweight): Thabiso Mchunu vs. Kareb Shitana [6 Rounds]
  • Fight 5 (Super Middleweight): Leo Careri vs. John Bopape [6 Rounds]
  • Fight 4 (Super Middleweight): Gary Van Staden vs. Mxolisi Lahliwe [6 Rounds]
  • Fight 3 (Bantamweight): Tiisetso Matikinca vs. Sabelo Cebekhulu [8 Rounds]
  • Fight 2 (Super Welterweight): Simnikiwe Bongco vs. Ntanganedzeni Mohane [6 Rounds]
  • Fight 1 (Jnr Lightweight): Msawakhe Mncwabe vs. Alexander Meyer [4 Rounds]

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