History will be made in Port Elizabeth when the city hosts six title bouts in one night at Nangoza Jebe Hall on December 18.
And, besides the historic ramifications, the tournament, to be promoted by Xaba Promotions and Eve
nts (XPE) in association with Last Born Promotions, will feature the Tete brothers – Zolani and Makazole – in one show for the first time.
Makazole will vie for the vacant IBO junior-bantamweight crown against Limpopo-born, Johannesburg-based Gideon Buthelezi, while his younger brother, Zolani, will bid for the WBO Africa crown in the same division.
The Tetes are considered the most talented boxing siblings in the country, with Zolani having made impressive defences of his IBF world crown, one of which was when he knocked out British star Paul Butler in eight rounds this past March, a victory that sent the boxing world into a frenzy.
He was unfortunately forced to vacate the title when he refused to accept terms of fighting in Puerto Rico against McJoe Arroyo in June.
Zolani returned to the ring in September to knock out Mexican Diuhl Olguin in eight rounds.
In Port Elizabeth he will face Filipino Jether Oliva, who will be making his second trip to the country, having lost via a debatable decision to reigning IBO flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane in Durban.
Other top boxers on the card include Lwandile Sityatha, who will face another Filipino, Ernesto Saulong for the WBO International bantamweight crown, and former two- time IBF champion Mzonke Fana, who will face Xolani Mcotheli for the WBO Africa lightweight crown.
Veteran Ali Funeka will also try to get back to winning ways, after he was dethroned of his IBO welterweight crown by Tsiko Mulovhedzi in July. This time Funeka will bid for the WBO Africa welterweight crown against Gideon Agbusu of Ghana.
Aphiwe Mboyiya and another Ghanaian, Abraham Osei Bonsu will tangle for the WBO Africa junior-lightweight belt.
“We have dubbed this tournament the ‘Show Stopper’ and there could be no better term for it,” XPE boss Ayanda Matiti said.
The SABC will televise the tournament live, in what should be the biggest night of boxing ever in Port Elizabeth.
Matiti said tickets priced at R300 were already on sale at Computicket. “Port Elizabeth should consider itself lucky to have such a historic tournament because I do not recall six titles being contested in one night in the country,” said Matiti.
Mulovhedzi will also be in action in a non-title fight against Kaizer Mabuza as a curtain-raiser.
Blockbuster night packed with title bonanza
And, besides the historic ramifications, the tournament, to be promoted by Xaba Promotions and Eve
nts (XPE) in association with Last Born Promotions, will feature the Tete brothers – Zolani and Makazole – in one show for the first time.
Makazole will vie for the vacant IBO junior-bantamweight crown against Limpopo-born, Johannesburg-based Gideon Buthelezi, while his younger brother, Zolani, will bid for the WBO Africa crown in the same division.
The Tetes are considered the most talented boxing siblings in the country, with Zolani having made impressive defences of his IBF world crown, one of which was when he knocked out British star Paul Butler in eight rounds this past March, a victory that sent the boxing world into a frenzy.
He was unfortunately forced to vacate the title when he refused to accept terms of fighting in Puerto Rico against McJoe Arroyo in June.
Zolani returned to the ring in September to knock out Mexican Diuhl Olguin in eight rounds.
In Port Elizabeth he will face Filipino Jether Oliva, who will be making his second trip to the country, having lost via a debatable decision to reigning IBO flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane in Durban.
Other top boxers on the card include Lwandile Sityatha, who will face another Filipino, Ernesto Saulong for the WBO International bantamweight crown, and former two- time IBF champion Mzonke Fana, who will face Xolani Mcotheli for the WBO Africa lightweight crown.
Veteran Ali Funeka will also try to get back to winning ways, after he was dethroned of his IBO welterweight crown by Tsiko Mulovhedzi in July. This time Funeka will bid for the WBO Africa welterweight crown against Gideon Agbusu of Ghana.
Aphiwe Mboyiya and another Ghanaian, Abraham Osei Bonsu will tangle for the WBO Africa junior-lightweight belt.
“We have dubbed this tournament the ‘Show Stopper’ and there could be no better term for it,” XPE boss Ayanda Matiti said.
The SABC will televise the tournament live, in what should be the biggest night of boxing ever in Port Elizabeth.
Matiti said tickets priced at R300 were already on sale at Computicket. “Port Elizabeth should consider itself lucky to have such a historic tournament because I do not recall six titles being contested in one night in the country,” said Matiti.
Mulovhedzi will also be in action in a non-title fight against Kaizer Mabuza as a curtain-raiser.
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