Classic conflict Artistry versus brute force in MakhenseMarios face-off
Makhense and Marios battle on Lerena bill promises fireworks
● Trainer Sebastiaan Rothmann is an admirer of Matamba Marios’ devastating ring skills, but now he must find a way of neutralising the Congolese destroyer.
Rothmann’s protege Jabulani Makhense takes on Johannesburg-based Marios in a battle of unbeaten junior-welterweights that has the potential of stealing the show at Emperors Palace on Saturday night.
It promises to be the classic conflict between boxer and fighter; artistry against brute force.
The two are the main supporting bout to IBO cruiserweight titleholder Kevin Lerena, who engages in another keep-busy fight against Sefer Seferi until the right offer with the right money lands on the table.
The Lerena business model involves staying active and ensuring his bank account ticks over.
Going overseas for average purses is risky, as promoter Rodney Berman learned when Thulani Mbenge lost his IBO welterweight belt in Germany a few months back.
Lerena, 27, will be the favourite against the awkward 40-year-old Albanian, whose only stoppage defeat came against heavyweight star Tyson Fury last year. But little separates Makhense and Marios. Makhense is the boxer, though he will tell you he can fight as well. Marios is the aggressor, but he insists he can box on the back foot.
After Marios had destroyed Clement Kamanga in the seventh round early this year, Rothmann went to his coach, Sean Smith, and told him he had a gem.
“I am a Matamba fan,” Rothmann admitted this week.
When the Makhense-Marios fight was first suggested to Rothmann, the first thing he did was phone Smith. “My first impression was I didn’t want it.”
Then he remembered he had already announced Makhense as the greatest natural ring talent since the late Mzukisi Sikali, the silky flyweight who was once Rothmann’s stablemate. The trainer needed to prove that his hypothesis was no hype.
So far Makhense, originally from Limpopo, has lived up to Rothmann’s billing. In his last two bouts he outpointed SA junior-welterweight champion Xolani Mcotheli and Michael Mokoena, both over 12 rounds.
He’s a slippery customer with sweet moves and a tasty punch, but Marios reckons he’s going to feast on the weaknesses he claims to have spotted.
“I’ve seen fear in his eyes in his two last fights,” said Marios, who left Brazzaville after the 2015 African Games to turn professional.
“He doesn’t like to get hit. And he hasn’t been hit by someone with my power yet. I know I’m going to stop him,” Marios said.
“I’m very fast with the counter and I’ve got the power.
He hasn’t been hit by someone with my power yet. I’m going to stop him Matamba Marios
Unbeaten junior-welterweight boxer
“He’s not going to reach 10 rounds,” said Marios, whose surname is frequently incorrectly listed as Matamba because where he comes from, they put the surname first.
Marios may well have to push for a stoppage — he has never been beyond seven rounds, having won every fight inside the distance except for one six-round decision.
Marios has 11 wins to his name compared to Makhense’s eight, but Makhense pips him on total rounds fought, by 46 to 42.
That’s one important advantage to Makhense, 26.
Power versus skill; this is a great test.
Another intriguing bout on the undercard is the cruiserweight clash between Lerena’s stablemate, Keaton Gomes, and Lebogang Mashietoa.
Gomes has built up an unblemished record of six wins, four of them inside the distance.
Mashietoa has a single loss in seven fights, but the thing is that he’s trained by Lionel Hunter, whose fighters have a habit of pulling off surprise victories, especially inside the distance.
The tournament will be broadcast on SuperSport 8 from 7pm.