Forthright Gauteng boxing trainer Bernie Pailman has warned that if Koos Sibiya does not win the vacant WBF Africa title later this month, then the 35-year-old will never have anything to show that he was once a boxer when his career ends.Sibiya from Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga has been a dedicated professional boxer since 2000, but with no belts to show for it.
He will now oppose his home boy, Ashley Dlamini, for the vacant WBF Africa junior-lightweight belt at Mmabatho Convention Hall in Mahikeng.
They will meet for the second time on the 19th of this month, having drawn their 10-rounder in 2013.
Veteran Pailman, who has been in charge of Sibiya’s career for 10 years, said: “We have been hard in the gym since December although we thought we would face SA champion Jasper Seroka.
“So Koos should be fit. If he can’t win this one, then he will never win any title. That is the sad reality. This is his last chance to win a belt.”
Sibiya was knocked out in two rounds by Zolani Marali for the junior-featherweight belt in 2005 and suffered a debatable points loss to Mzonke Fana for the WBF Intercontinental belt in March last year.
Sibiya lost to Seroka in August last year and could only win the beltless Gauteng championship. He has won 17 of his 31 bouts.
The boxer said: “I’m going to prove judges wrong this time against Ashley.”
Dlamini, who is trained by Harry Ramogoadi in Gauteng, has not won anything as a professional boxer in eight years.
He was stopped in the seventh round by Seroka in March in what eventually became Dlamini’s third defeat in 21 fights.
lPromoter Tshele Kometsi announced that Gauteng-based Ugandan female boxer Nathaline Bania has replaced Bukiwe Nonina as the opponent for Matshidiso Mokebisi for the vacant WBF International bout.
Bania fights out of Hillbrow and has beaten both Nonina and Mokebisi already.
Veteran Sibiya’s last chance for claiming glory
Sibiya from Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga has been a dedicated professional boxer since 2000, but with no belts to show for it.
He will now oppose his home boy, Ashley Dlamini, for the vacant WBF Africa junior-lightweight belt at Mmabatho Convention Hall in Mahikeng.
They will meet for the second time on the 19th of this month, having drawn their 10-rounder in 2013.
Veteran Pailman, who has been in charge of Sibiya’s career for 10 years, said: “We have been hard in the gym since December although we thought we would face SA champion Jasper Seroka.
“So Koos should be fit. If he can’t win this one, then he will never win any title. That is the sad reality. This is his last chance to win a belt.”
Sibiya was knocked out in two rounds by Zolani Marali for the junior-featherweight belt in 2005 and suffered a debatable points loss to Mzonke Fana for the WBF Intercontinental belt in March last year.
Sibiya lost to Seroka in August last year and could only win the beltless Gauteng championship. He has won 17 of his 31 bouts.
The boxer said: “I’m going to prove judges wrong this time against Ashley.”
Dlamini, who is trained by Harry Ramogoadi in Gauteng, has not won anything as a professional boxer in eight years.
He was stopped in the seventh round by Seroka in March in what eventually became Dlamini’s third defeat in 21 fights.
lPromoter Tshele Kometsi announced that Gauteng-based Ugandan female boxer Nathaline Bania has replaced Bukiwe Nonina as the opponent for Matshidiso Mokebisi for the vacant WBF International bout.
Bania fights out of Hillbrow and has beaten both Nonina and Mokebisi already.
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