Prosser's character shines through in hard fought victory

MLBoxing and Insane Promotions returned to the Cabo Beach at the Waterfront for another installment of Fight Island, on a night packed with boxing action. Supporting the main event, SD Pypers moved to 4-0 with a first-round stoppage against Surprise Khoza in their middleweight bout. Pypers barely broke a sweat as he made it four stoppage wins out of four, with all of them coming in the very first round.

In the main event, Sea Point's Dylan Prosser faced a significant scare and a challenging night at Cabo Beach on Saturday, but ultimately secured the result he needed against a relentless John Bopape, to advance his record to 7-0 after a grueling super middleweight bout.

The home crowd was on the edge of their seats, particularly in the seventh round, when Bopape connected with a heavy right hand to Prosser's jaw early in the round, threatening to end the fight. Prosser's chin was tested like never before as he hung on, making it to the end of the round to the huge sigh of relief of his supporters.

In his young career, this was one of, if not the toughest test he has faced, and he proved he was capable of readjusting and composing himself to get the decision win. Known for his sharp footwork and explosive power, the promising youngster, who many believe has a high ceiling, demonstrated in his seventh career victory that he can handle adversity just as effectively as he can inflict damage.

Other results on the night saw Tristan Naidoo get another stoppage win and moving his record to 4-2. All of his victories have been by stoppage. Finishing this one early will serve Naidoo well as he has another fight scheduled for later this month.

Mitchell's Plain newcomer Mika-eel Jacobs and Malawian boxer Mayamiko "Tyson" Mozland produced a fight of the night performance in their junior welterweight bout, which ultimately went to the debutant Jacobs by way of a split decision. Khaya Mlata also had a straightforward six-round victory against Saul Hlungwani.

Promoter Savva Savvas announced that Mlata was now confirmed to fight for a youth WBC belt, which is massive news for Mlata and a huge step forward in his career. He is expected to take on a yet-to-be-announced opponent in October for the coveted green belt.

The announcement marked a fantastic end to a night that showcased the grit and potential of the rising stars of Mzansi boxing. The event as a whole highlighted the growing boxing scene and the talent emerging from the Fight Island stable.