Xolani Mcotheli does not understand the hullabaloo surrounding his IBO Intercontinental junior-lightweight title clash against veteran Malcolm Klassen scheduled to take place at Orient Theatre on Friday.
The amiable 26-year-old fighter just bursts into a guffaw when asked if the sacrificial lamb tag is correct.
“I hear all this talk about me being thrown into the deep end by being matched against Klassen but it does not bother me,” he said at the fight’s premedical at Mdantsane Fitness Joint yesterday.
“I was given three names to choose from and I settled for Klassen because he is the more battle-tested than the rest.”
His promoter Ayanda Matiti, who will present Friday’s fight under his Xaba Promotions (XP) banner, has come under a barrage of attacks for matching Mcotheli against a dangerous boxer like Klassen.
Matiti, who has a penchant of over-matching his boxers, concurred that he first discussed the fight with Mcotheli and his technical staff.
“I sat down with them and presented them with some names including Mzonke Fana and Thabo Sonjica and they all settled for Klassen,” Matiti confirmed.
Mcotheli, who will have his second fight under the XP banner, says he is ready for a boxer of Klassen’s calibre. “If I cannot beat Klassen who has seen better days maybe I should rethink my boxing career. All I need is to be fit and the rest will take care of itself.”
Mcotheli was at his most brilliant self when he flummoxed dangerous Filipino Marbon Bodiongan en route to a one-sided win in East London last December.
He says the bout which was his first under the tutelage of Makwedinana Matiti, Miniyakhe Sityatha and Mbuso Mtya showed that he has evolved as a fighter since dumping the Eyethu stable.
It was while under Eyethu when he suffered his only professional career loss against Jasper Seroka.
He is still bitter with the manner in which he lost the fight but has opted to focus on his future.
“There are so many things that went wrong leading to the fight against Seroka but it is no use crying over spilt milk. The point is I am here now and I want to win a world title.”
The Mthatha-born Duncan Village based boxer is one of the gifted fighters in the province and is blessed with power as well as ring IQ confirmed by his eight stoppages in 11 wins.
Matiti does not doubt that he has a star in the making in Mcotheli especially as his other star Xolisani Ndongeni bolted his stable to join Colin Nathan and Rodney Berman in Johannesburg.
“Mcotheli will be a world champion, mark my words,” he said.
“I know you are yet to be convinced about that but I have an eye in spotting special talent. No one believed me when I said Lwandile Sityatha was going to be a world champion but he has not only won a world title but two.”
While Mcotheli’s talent cannot be disputed but he is yet to prove that he is indeed above the level of a national championship and a comprehensive victory over a tried and tested boxer like Klassen will force detractors to sit up and give him his dues.
The tournament will feature four other championship bouts.
Mcotheli vows he will rock the fancied Klassen’s world
The amiable 26-year-old fighter just bursts into a guffaw when asked if the sacrificial lamb tag is correct.
“I hear all this talk about me being thrown into the deep end by being matched against Klassen but it does not bother me,” he said at the fight’s premedical at Mdantsane Fitness Joint yesterday.
“I was given three names to choose from and I settled for Klassen because he is the more battle-tested than the rest.”
His promoter Ayanda Matiti, who will present Friday’s fight under his Xaba Promotions (XP) banner, has come under a barrage of attacks for matching Mcotheli against a dangerous boxer like Klassen.
Matiti, who has a penchant of over-matching his boxers, concurred that he first discussed the fight with Mcotheli and his technical staff.
“I sat down with them and presented them with some names including Mzonke Fana and Thabo Sonjica and they all settled for Klassen,” Matiti confirmed.
Mcotheli, who will have his second fight under the XP banner, says he is ready for a boxer of Klassen’s calibre. “If I cannot beat Klassen who has seen better days maybe I should rethink my boxing career. All I need is to be fit and the rest will take care of itself.”
Mcotheli was at his most brilliant self when he flummoxed dangerous Filipino Marbon Bodiongan en route to a one-sided win in East London last December.
He says the bout which was his first under the tutelage of Makwedinana Matiti, Miniyakhe Sityatha and Mbuso Mtya showed that he has evolved as a fighter since dumping the Eyethu stable.
It was while under Eyethu when he suffered his only professional career loss against Jasper Seroka.
He is still bitter with the manner in which he lost the fight but has opted to focus on his future.
“There are so many things that went wrong leading to the fight against Seroka but it is no use crying over spilt milk. The point is I am here now and I want to win a world title.”
The Mthatha-born Duncan Village based boxer is one of the gifted fighters in the province and is blessed with power as well as ring IQ confirmed by his eight stoppages in 11 wins.
Matiti does not doubt that he has a star in the making in Mcotheli especially as his other star Xolisani Ndongeni bolted his stable to join Colin Nathan and Rodney Berman in Johannesburg.
“Mcotheli will be a world champion, mark my words,” he said.
“I know you are yet to be convinced about that but I have an eye in spotting special talent. No one believed me when I said Lwandile Sityatha was going to be a world champion but he has not only won a world title but two.”
While Mcotheli’s talent cannot be disputed but he is yet to prove that he is indeed above the level of a national championship and a comprehensive victory over a tried and tested boxer like Klassen will force detractors to sit up and give him his dues.
The tournament will feature four other championship bouts.
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