1.
GV Mathebula (South Africa) in dark shorts and Laciar (Argentina) in round 5; Mathebula goes down for count of nine, then boxes on; Laciar punches Mathebula into corner
0.30

2.
SV Spectators
0.32

3.
SV Laciar knocks Mathebula out of ring; Mathebula climbs back into ring and they continue to box; Laciar forces fight; Bell goes for end of round six with Mathebula looking dazed in corner
1.25

4.
SV Spectators
1.28

5.
SV Laciar knocks Mathebula down in round 7 and referee declares Laciar winner
1.52

6.
SV Spectators
1.54

7.
CU Winner Laciar waves arms to crowd
2.03




Initials BB



SPORT: BOXING
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: Argentine boxer Santos Laciar comfortable fought his way to the World Boxing Association's (WBA) Flyweight title on Saturday (28 March) when he beat South African titleholder Peter Mathebula in the seventh round of their fight at Soweto's Orlando Stadium. Mathebula, who had been the first South African to win a world title, could not match Laciar's powerful punching. He was knocked down twice during the BOUT.

SYNOPSIS: Mathebula, in the dark shorts, had fought well in the early rounds, despite a cut above the right eye. However, by the time they had reached the fifth round, Laciar had taken the initiative. He put Mathebula down with a hard left-hand punch and the South African took a count of nine before regaining his feet. Laciar continued to attack for the rest of the round.

The crowd of 35-thousand watching the first world championship fight in their city voiced their feelings as Mathebula continued to take punishment in the sixth round. He was through the ropes at one stage but the United States referee Stan Berg ruled it was a push. Laciar continued to hammer the South African mercilessly.

Mathebula continued to cover up but was showing the effects of the Argentine's attack at the end of the sixth.

The dreams of millions of black South Africans were fading as the seventh round got underway. The end came two minutes and two seconds into the round when the champion fell to a flurry of blows. The fight was stopped.

With victory his, however, Laciar now faces the problem of overcoming the growing international boycott of sportsmen who have competed in South Africa.