Mthatha will be the focal boxing point this weekend when Zulu Promotions (ZP) presents a 10-bout tournament at the OR Tambo Hall tonight.
The show funded by provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture is dominated by the boxers from the OR Tambo region and promises to leave a lasting legacy with even ZP boss Bongani Zulu embarking on a week-long campaign to donate equipment to local schools.
The event is scheduled to coincide with Heritage Month.
Spectators would be expected to come in their traditional gear.
“We will be dishing out prizes to the best spectator in traditional gear,” he said.
But there will be no tradition in the ring when old trial horses Viwe Mdletyeni and Patrick Malinga battle for the WBF and WBA Pan African lightweight titles.
The fight can best be described as a crossroads match up as a loss for either boxer will likely spell the end of his career.
Malinga is already 39 years old but having inherited fighting genes from his boxing family he is likely to stay around for a while and milk his name recognition.
One of the boxing sons of the late Jabu Malinga, Patrick alongside his younger brother Vusi and elder brother Peter have been keeping the family name in the boxing scene.
Now Peter has taken over the training duties after retiring having amassed an enviable collection of titles including two world crowns.
Patrick only went as far as national champion while Vusi twice challenged for a world title.
Now the Malingas will come down to Mthatha armed with their big family name hoping to come away with two titles against the local boy.
And they might just achieve their goal if Mdletyeni’s latest run is anything to go by.
Since being laid off for two years for doping, which also saw him being stripped of his SA title, Mdletyeni has failed to recapture the form that made him one of the boxing darlings.
After the ban Mdletyeni has won just two of his six bouts while losing three and drawing one.
The bill will be stacked by at least five boxers from Mthatha, many who have since left the region to pursue opportunities in East London.
Boxers such as Luthando Mbumbulwana and Xolani Mcotheli will trek back home to display what they learnt under East London trainers.
Mbumbulwana will take on Simpiwe Mayeza in a junior-featherweight scrap while Mcotheli will make his junior-welterweight debut against seasoned campaigner Lungisa Jikani of Port Elizabeth.
There will be a return of the talented yet under-utilised Siseko “Majayivana” Makeleni who had to face fellow homeboy Zama Zokwe in East London in his lone defeat.
Makeleni will oppose Dumisai Tose in what promises to be an explosive bout.
Rumble in Mthatha
The show funded by provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture is dominated by the boxers from the OR Tambo region and promises to leave a lasting legacy with even ZP boss Bongani Zulu embarking on a week-long campaign to donate equipment to local schools.
The event is scheduled to coincide with Heritage Month.
Spectators would be expected to come in their traditional gear.
“We will be dishing out prizes to the best spectator in traditional gear,” he said.
But there will be no tradition in the ring when old trial horses Viwe Mdletyeni and Patrick Malinga battle for the WBF and WBA Pan African lightweight titles.
The fight can best be described as a crossroads match up as a loss for either boxer will likely spell the end of his career.
Malinga is already 39 years old but having inherited fighting genes from his boxing family he is likely to stay around for a while and milk his name recognition.
One of the boxing sons of the late Jabu Malinga, Patrick alongside his younger brother Vusi and elder brother Peter have been keeping the family name in the boxing scene.
Now Peter has taken over the training duties after retiring having amassed an enviable collection of titles including two world crowns.
Patrick only went as far as national champion while Vusi twice challenged for a world title.
Now the Malingas will come down to Mthatha armed with their big family name hoping to come away with two titles against the local boy.
And they might just achieve their goal if Mdletyeni’s latest run is anything to go by.
Since being laid off for two years for doping, which also saw him being stripped of his SA title, Mdletyeni has failed to recapture the form that made him one of the boxing darlings.
After the ban Mdletyeni has won just two of his six bouts while losing three and drawing one.
The bill will be stacked by at least five boxers from Mthatha, many who have since left the region to pursue opportunities in East London.
Boxers such as Luthando Mbumbulwana and Xolani Mcotheli will trek back home to display what they learnt under East London trainers.
Mbumbulwana will take on Simpiwe Mayeza in a junior-featherweight scrap while Mcotheli will make his junior-welterweight debut against seasoned campaigner Lungisa Jikani of Port Elizabeth.
There will be a return of the talented yet under-utilised Siseko “Majayivana” Makeleni who had to face fellow homeboy Zama Zokwe in East London in his lone defeat.
Makeleni will oppose Dumisai Tose in what promises to be an explosive bout.
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