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Johannesburg - Leon Mynhardt has successfully defended his lightweight title when he knocked out Frederich Naumann a mere 38 seconds into their fight at the 27th edition of the EFC Africa at Carnival City in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Mynhardt wasted no time at all as he defended an initial blitz of punches, before unleashing a trio of his own, as the defending champion crushed his opponent in front of a packed house in Brakpan.
"I don't like to talk outside of the ring," Mynhardt said after the fight, following a week filled with words from both camps ahead of the bout.
"When we came out, I heard his corner saying, 'just fight, just fight!'
"So I decided to also come out and fight. I have to thank my camp for my preparations and I'm very pleased."
In the night's other main-card bout, Nkazimulo Zulu became the inaugural bantamweight champion by beating Charlie Weyer in the first round, lifting the division's belt for the first time in the institution's history.
Zulu earned a technical knockout victory as Weyer threw in the towel following a barrage of powerful blows which paved the way for Zulu to lift the title.
Meanwhile, Brendon Groenewald was handed a controversial victory via disqualification, as his opponent Vandam Mbuyi was adjudged to have illegally struck Groenewald in the groin, resulting in an immediate stop to the fight just seconds into the opening round.
Tumelo Maphutha continued his impressive display in the cage and got the better of his opposite number, Fraser Opie, by claiming a tapout victory after a verbal submission.
Opie called it quits before the end of the opening round, following what looked like an injury to his forearm, which allowed Maphutha to walk away with the win.
Also in action was Dricus du Plessis, who extended his winning streak to four consecutive bouts, dispatching of Donovan Hawkey by claiming a technical knockout against the veteran fighter, at the age of just 20.
