FOR all its hype, the Premier Boxing League is yet to deliver a knockout – literally – but at yesterday’s weigh-in all the eight boxers, who will compete in tonight’s show at East London’s Orient Theatre, promised to deal a stoppage beating on their opponents.
Incredibly all the eight boxers easily made the weight for their various divisions, showing the seriousness in which they view their participation in the money-spinning league.
The packed Downtown gymnasium were rooting for unbeaten flyweight star Makazole Tete as the venue reverberated in deafening screams when Tete’s name was called in for his weigh-in with opponent Mzuvukile Magwaca.
Magwaca is still regarded as a jinx in local circles after beating Mdantsane’s Lwandile Sityatha in the last PBL show held in the city in July.
When Tete took the microphone, every word he said was met with cheers. “I am here to bring back the respect of my area after Magwaca beat my brother Sityatha,” Tete said.
“He will be sorry for what he did.”
Tete is unbeaten in eight fights with a draw against recently crowned SA junior flyweight champion Mfundo Gwayana in the first leg of the league in June.
Magwaca reminded everyone what he started in July will be continued. ”I’m sorry if I am proving to be your jinx but there is unfortunately no stopping me,” he said to loud jeers.
“I am beating everybody on my path.” Indeed Magwaca exhibited scintillating skills to out-box Sityatha and experts are tipping him to go all the way.
The bravado displayed by Tete and Magwaca was to be overshadowed by the anticipation of the lightweight clash between showman Xolisani Ndongeni and Vusumzi Bokolo.
In vintage Ndongeni pre-fight predictions, the 23-year-old Duncan Village boxer went lyrically as he delved on his gab about the age factor playing a role in the outcome of his bout with Bokolo. He said boxing needed new blood and for that reasons his promoter Ayanda Matiti of Xaba Promotions cannot lose a bout to a boxer promoted by Eyethu Promotions owned by Mzi Mnguni.
“We are taking over now and unfortunately Bra BK will have to be a sacrificial lamb because his time is up,” he said.
Then he burst into song “mbobo vuleka, vuleka mbobo” and in no time the whole crowd was singing along. Bokolo who packs a mean punch said he would be coming into the ring with an axe to squash the “wasp” which is Ndongeni’s nickname.
“But your axe will be too heavy for you when I floor you four times before finishing you,” Ndongeni countered. “I’ll drop you once and you’ll stay down,” answered Bokolo.
Other bouts on the bill will see Macbute Sinyabi taking on Lwando Molwana in a featherweight clash while the bantamweight bout will be contested by Gauteng’s Cleutus Mbele and Innocent Mantengu from KwaZulu-Natal.