Brick-wielding man stops Mhlongo

NKULULEKO ‘‘Bulldog” Mhlongo’s defence of the WBF Intercontinental junior middleweight title against Frans Ramabolu has been called off after the champion lost two teeth during an attack in Jabulani, Soweto, last Wednesday.

The fight was to take place in Polokwane on Friday and Boxing SA Gauteng manager Archie Nyingwa confirmed the attack in an interview yesterday.

Mhlongo said yesterday his problems began when bullies in his neighbourhood beat up his two children. He said he approached the parents of the bullies and tried to resolve the matter amicably.

But his children were assaulted again by the same assailants and by his own admission, that was when he lost his cool.

Mhlongo took matters into his hands and ‘‘beat up” his children’s bullies after the second incident. ‘‘Clearly this guy, who is an uncle to one of those kids, did not take kindly to what I did.

‘‘So as I was just about to begin jogging on Koma Road in the early hours of Wednesday morning, I saw him but I did not suspect anything. But before I knew it, he hit me very hard with a brick straight on my mouth and then disappeared,” he said

Mhlongo said he went to Tladi Clinic and was later transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Diepkloof, Soweto, for X-rays.

‘‘I lost my teeth and my gums are sore. I have taken a break from training. I am hurting badly because I have serious problems getting opponents here at home. And when I get one (Ramabolu), that chance is blown away just like that.”

Mhlongo’s trademark boxing style is to hide his right hand behind his back and throw every punch in the book with his left hand, once he finds rhythm against his opponent. He last fought on June 10 in Brazil, where he was outpointed by WBF middleweight champion Isaac Rodriques in what was his third defeat against 12 wins.

Trainer Sechaba Mabuya, who has trained Mhlongo since 2013, said the boxer had suffered a massive setback. ‘‘What happened to him is 10 steps backwards because we struggle to get fights here,” he said. ‘‘We are down, yes, but certainly not out and we will be back.”

Meanwhile, Bukiwe Nonina is out of danger following her visit to Victoria Hospital in Mahikeng moments after she was defeated by Nathaline Bannie over six rounds at Mahikeng Civic Centre in the North West.

Nonina collapsed after that defeat on Saturday night and was rushed to hospital.

Boxing SA official Sylvia Mokaila, who was the referee of the bout, said Nonina was in hospital for observation and discharged after a check-up.

He hit me very hard with a brick straight on my mouth and then disappeared