Warren Joubert overcame a sluggish start to emerge victorious with unanimous point’s decision over Lungisa Jikani to retain his South African Junior Welterweight title at Orlando Hall in Soweto.
Jikani’s offence forced Jourbert to retreat in the first two rounds. He masterfully cut off the ring, preventing the defending champion to move away from his power blows. Jikana was slipping punches and continuously countered with stiff jabs followed by straight rights. “The Warrior” acknowledges his poor performance in the first two rounds. A disappointed Joubert said: “I was very stuck on those rounds and I wasn’t moving the way I was supposed to do.”
However things changed towards the end of the third round when Joubert started upping his pace and throwing ferocious combinations. The time his foe tried to return punches Joubert would use his good footwork making it difficult to be caught.
The champ showed cleverness along with endeavour that improved his record to (24-4-5). Yet again he proved he can go toe to toe with any boxer as he stood and traded with the challenger and quickly moving out using educated jab to keep his distance and pounding Jikane with vicious punches. He gave an entertaining show that left people in the room talking about it. He appreciates the fans that supported him during the fight and highlighted how people in Soweto are welcoming.
“It’s always motivating when the crowd is cheering you on especially when you come out at Soweto and it’s not the usual place where you normally fight because I normally fight at Emperor Palace. You come out here and everyone is so welcoming and chanting your name because they enjoy the way you fight”, He said smiling.
It was the second time the two pugilist met in the ring with Joubert winning unanimous points decision last year April. “The first fight was a lot easier for me and I believe he worked a lot much on this one, he really boxed very well this time around and it might be the closer one than the first fight but nonetheless I won.”
Despite being impressed with his opponent Friday’s performance he is not willing to fight him again in the near future. “Fighting him again will be pointless because I already beaten him twice convincingly and both times in a unanimous points decision so I don’t believe it will be smart to fight him for the third time”, Joubert added.
Although the victor showed astonish performance he believes he was not at his best peak. He still believes he is the best Junior Welterweight in South Africa and confident no one can beat him. “I am the Junior Welterweight and WBA interim Pan African champion making me the best in my weight division. I have fought the best in the Country and the record speaks for itself”, he confidently said. - Independent Media