CONNECTING: SA's Hawk Makepula lands a right hook to the face of opponent, Rolly Lunas of the Philippines in their WBC junior bantam-weight contest. Makepula won on points at the Orient
Theatre in East London last night.

EAST LONDON - Hawk Makepula and Gabula Vabaza both scored resounding victories over Filipino opposition to claim vacant WBA and WBC international titles respectively at the Orient Theatre here last night.

However it was Makepula's WBC International junior bantamweight title winning effort which thrilled the packed hall.

Not that Makepula was in danger of losing the fight but the incredible resilience of his opponent Rony Lunas who never backed off despite being nailed by an assortment of punches throughout the bout.

There were times when Makepula ploughed with vicious uppercuts to the face but the little Filipino would merely shake his head and charge in again.

So resilient was Lunas that SABCTV boxing analyst Brian Mulder said: "He must be on drugs to withstand this kind of punishment and keep coming forward."

Aware that there was no way he could knock out Lunas, Makepula resorted to boxing in the last three rounds to win a shutout 118-111, 119-102 and 119-111.

Vabaza nearly kissed the WBA international junior featherweight crown goodbye when he was dropped by a wicked right hook by Roger Galicia in the second round.

But Vabaza boxed smartly in the following rounds and displayed brilliant boxing in the 10th round as he made the Filipino miss then rocked him with vicious punches to run a clear winner on all the judges' scorecards.