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East London - Thabo “Super Eagle” Sonjica has lived up to his pre-fight predictions and won the vacant IBO junior-featherweight title stopping Silvester Lopez in the sixth round at the Orient Theatre in East London on Saturday evening.
With the backing of the East London crowd, Sonjica dominated the fight until he stopped the Filipino boxer with his left-right combinations.
Sonjica, who won the IBO belt nearly three months after winning the South African junior-featherweight crown, took the fight to his opponent from the first bell and it soon became clear the contest would not go the distance.
The southpaw from Duncan Village, in East London, shook Lopez a number of times in the first round with his solid body punches and the bell saved the Filipino boxer from further punishment.
The next round also went to Sonjica as he continued to land some good punches, while Lopez continued to retreat.
It was only at the beginning of the third round Lopez decided to take the fight to Sonjica to have any hope. However, he was still on the receiving end despite his best efforts.
Rounds four and five belonged to Sonjica as he hit his opponent at will.
Sensing Lopez had nothing left to offer, Sonjica pummelled him with his left-right combinations, forcing fight referee Andile Matika to stop the contest 45 seconds into the sixth round.
