GLENDALE, Ariz. – Light-weight contender Raymond Muratalla needed to cope with a recreation and skilled Xolisani Ndongeni, profitable a hard-fought unanimous resolution Friday evening on the Desert Diamond Area.
Scores had been 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93 for Muratalla of their ESPN+ preliminary bout.
Muratalla, The Ring No. 7-rated light-weight, had a more-difficult time than anticipated in opposition to Ndongeni who selected to remain within the pocket. The visiting South African landed a collection of proper arms on the unbeaten contender from Fontana, California.
Because the struggle progressed, Muratalla would stroll Ndongeni down and compelled him to struggle off his again foot or in opposition to the ropes. Ndongeni tried to counter Muratalla, however was not as lively or correct as his favored foe.
Early through the fifth spherical, each fighters stood within the pocket, exchanging hooks and crosses to the pinnacle. Muratalla received the higher of the exchanges. Later within the spherical, Ndongeni related with a collection of left arms to the pinnacle of Muratalla.
A left hook to the pinnacle momentarily surprised Ndongeni early within the sixth spherical. Muratalla landed a proper cross moments later. Ndongeni was once more capable of land a counter proper hand to the pinnacle to shut the spherical.
Muratalla continued to outbox Ndongeni, however elevated his punch output and aggression through the remaining two rounds. It was not till the early portion of the ultimate spherical the place he momentarily harm Ndongeni, who was capable of get well and reply.
Ndongeni selected to not tie up or clench Muratalla, trying to counter. Nevertheless, he left himself weak to get caught with a counter or hook to the pinnacle. Ndongeni was capable of climate combos from Muratalla to male it till the ultimate bell.
Muratalla, 27, improved to 20-0, 16 knockouts. The space win ended a four-fight knockout streak. He beforehand fought on November 4, stopping Diego Torres Nunez within the eighth spherical. On Could 20, Muratalla, who’s skilled by Robert Garcia, stopped Jeremia Nakathila within the second spherical.
The 33-year-old Ndongeni, who resides in Duncan Village, South Africa, falls to 31-5, 18 KOs. The loss was his third in a row. Arnold Barboza Jr. stopped him after eight rounds on January 6.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He will be reached at [email protected].
Comply with @FSalazarBoxing
