The spotlight may be on local boy Siphamandla “ToyToy” Baleni in his mini-flyweight clash against Lonwabo Roboshi at OR Tambo Hall in Mthatha this evening.
But there will be two other bouts on the undercard featuring two Cape Town-based boxers that will be closely watched.
One is between former SA flyweight title challenger Morris Lento from Duncan Village, and relatively unknown Mnikelo Ndema from Cape Town in a bantamweight clash.
While Lento is the more well-known of the two, having fought to draw against then reigning flyweight champion Lwandile Sityatha, he will likely have his hands full against the unbeaten Capetonian trained by well- known Zola Koti.
Ndema is reportedly a ticking time bomb ready to explode just like a then relatively unknown Toto Helebe did when he upset huge favourite Phumzile Matyhila to take the SA bantamweight crown way back.
Ndema came down to these shores late last year as he was scheduled to face another Duncan Village boxer Unathi Gqokoma in Willowvale.
However Gqokoma, a former SA champion, suffered an illness just after the weigh-in of their fight causing it to be scrapped.
There are differing stories about Gqokoma’s illness, with Ndema alleging that he chickened out on realising the task at hand.
The other Capetonian, Sinethemba Bam, will be looking to upset the favoured once beaten southpaw Phila Gola.
Gola will be fighting for the first time since his tough unanimous decision loss to Bonakele Bhikitsha, whose win has now earned him a shot at SA junior-featherweight champion Bongani Mahlangu.
Koti was understandably reluctant to talk up the chances of his two charges in fear of scaring off their opponents.
“We will talk after the results but I can tell you that we are taking these two fights very serious,” he said.
The card will be promoted by Fireworks, Lima and Sijuta Promotions and is the first boxing tournament for the year.
It was initially scheduled to be held at Wild Coast Sun and Casino in Mzamba, but was moved to Mthatha due to overbooking at the resort.
Baleni, who has given the SA title a middle finger after he was sent from post to pillar when he wanted to fight for it, is looking to continue to build his international stature especially as his promoter Sijuta has various connections with the world boxing scene.
Andile Sidinile recently returned from the WBA Convention in Panama where he successfully negotiated for his boxers to get high rankings.
Other bouts: Zama “Locomotive” Zokhwe v Simpiwe Mayeza (featherweight), Siseko Nkohliso v Bonani Ngozi (bantamweight), Athi Mahanjana v Siyabonga Ngutyana (jnr-middleweight).
The tournament is scheduled to start at 6pm.
Cape of Storms could well steal Baleni thunder
But there will be two other bouts on the undercard featuring two Cape Town-based boxers that will be closely watched.
One is between former SA flyweight title challenger Morris Lento from Duncan Village, and relatively unknown Mnikelo Ndema from Cape Town in a bantamweight clash.
While Lento is the more well-known of the two, having fought to draw against then reigning flyweight champion Lwandile Sityatha, he will likely have his hands full against the unbeaten Capetonian trained by well- known Zola Koti.
Ndema is reportedly a ticking time bomb ready to explode just like a then relatively unknown Toto Helebe did when he upset huge favourite Phumzile Matyhila to take the SA bantamweight crown way back.
Ndema came down to these shores late last year as he was scheduled to face another Duncan Village boxer Unathi Gqokoma in Willowvale.
However Gqokoma, a former SA champion, suffered an illness just after the weigh-in of their fight causing it to be scrapped.
There are differing stories about Gqokoma’s illness, with Ndema alleging that he chickened out on realising the task at hand.
The other Capetonian, Sinethemba Bam, will be looking to upset the favoured once beaten southpaw Phila Gola.
Gola will be fighting for the first time since his tough unanimous decision loss to Bonakele Bhikitsha, whose win has now earned him a shot at SA junior-featherweight champion Bongani Mahlangu.
Koti was understandably reluctant to talk up the chances of his two charges in fear of scaring off their opponents.
“We will talk after the results but I can tell you that we are taking these two fights very serious,” he said.
The card will be promoted by Fireworks, Lima and Sijuta Promotions and is the first boxing tournament for the year.
It was initially scheduled to be held at Wild Coast Sun and Casino in Mzamba, but was moved to Mthatha due to overbooking at the resort.
Baleni, who has given the SA title a middle finger after he was sent from post to pillar when he wanted to fight for it, is looking to continue to build his international stature especially as his promoter Sijuta has various connections with the world boxing scene.
Andile Sidinile recently returned from the WBA Convention in Panama where he successfully negotiated for his boxers to get high rankings.
Other bouts: Zama “Locomotive” Zokhwe v Simpiwe Mayeza (featherweight), Siseko Nkohliso v Bonani Ngozi (bantamweight), Athi Mahanjana v Siyabonga Ngutyana (jnr-middleweight).
The tournament is scheduled to start at 6pm.
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