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We are so proud of Lebo “The Machine” Mashitoa

From the Spit Bucket. Some excellent fights on the Golden Gloves promoted bill at Emperors Palace last night. A few boxers put their hands up to show that they are really capable of bigger and better things in the square ring. I tend to agree with Andre Thysse that the stand out performance came from the Hunter's Gym in the form of Lebo Mashitoa. 

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Even though he came into this fight with a previous close points win over his opponent Keaton Gomes, many still considered him to be the underdog. Gomes came into the fight with a solid amateur fight pedigree and many pundits felt he would simply be too strong for Mashitoa. Mashitoa probably walked into the ring with a lot on his mind. 

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His coach and mentor Lionel Hunter took ill in the week before the fight. He was going into battle with a new stand-in trainer Sebastiaan Rothman, who was assisted by the up and coming Tamrin Shakur. Rothman is no slouch when it comes to running a corner, and he made sure that Mashitoa stuck to the game plan and presented Lionel Hunter with the best get well present he could wish for. Somehow Gomes could simply not get out of 1st gear and it looked as if he was trying to take Mashitoa's head off his shoulders with every punch he threw.

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I come from the old school, where I believe everything you throw must come off the jab. That is exactly what Mashitoa did. He boxed beautifully from behind his jab and threw 2, 3, and 4 punch combinations with deadly accuracy. He moved well and stayed out of trouble, knowing that he could not mix it with the physically stronger Gomes.

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This standout performance earns Mashitoa a place in the final of the Cruiserweight Series. It is clear that Mashitoa came into this fight in superb condition, his work rate throughout the fight was incredible. Well done young man and get well soon Lionel Hunter.

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By Brian Wysoke

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