MZONKE Fana’s nickname “Rose of Khayelitsha” will likely change to the “Rose of Mhlontlo” when he returns home for a fight in his birthplace on April 26.
Fana will headline a bumper show when he defends the WBA Pan-African junior-lightweight crown against Mdantsane’s Themba Shicila.
The veteran boxer was born in the Ngxakolo Village but had to relocate to Khayelitsha in Cape Town where he made a name for himself when he won two IBF world junior-lightweight titles.
He achieved this when he beat Malcolm Klassen and Cassius Baloyi to first win and regain IBF crowns.
Throughout his illustrious career he has been known as a Cape Town boxer even earning the moniker of “Rose of Khayelitsha” when he should have a name reflecting his area of birth.
Now after 20 years in the wilderness, Fana comes back home to display his talent in front of his people.
“Fana’s homecoming is long overdue but I am glad that Mhlontlo Municipality have seen the importance of bringing back the son of the soil to fight in front of his people and inspire the youngsters to follow a career in boxing,” says Siphatho Handi, boss of Mamali Promotions who will stage the fight.
However the biggest challenge has been finding a proper venue to host the fight with organisers resorting to using a school hall.
“We could not find a proper venue so we had to use Little Flower Junior Secondary School hall,” said Handi.
The wisdom of holding such a big tournament in a school hall is yet to be determined.
Besides the clash between Fana and Shicila, the tournament features a WBA Pan-African, two SA title bouts and the WBF Africa title clash.
Handi and Boxing SA-Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs visited the area and decided on the school hall which is said to have a volume of 700.
“Although I okayed it but my fear is that the school is right in Fana’s village so you can expect it to be filled to capacity,” said Jacobs.
Asked why he put on such a mega tournament in a rural area when it can fill any venue in East London, Handi said he did not want to short-changed the people of Qumbu.
“I want the people of Qumbu to watch first-class boxing right in their doorsteps so that their kids could be inspired to take up boxing as a career.”
Shicila, who has enjoyed a resurgence since joining DownTown Boxing Club, holds the WBF International title and has promised to send Fana to retirement in front of his people.
“I take it that Mzonke’s relatives will be there so they will advise him to quit after the beating I will dish out to him,” said Shicila.
In the main supporting bout Simpiwe Konkco from Mthatha will put his SA and WBA Pan-African mini-flyweight crown on the line against Sibusiso Twani.
Another clash involving a Transkei boxer will be between Nyandeni’s Luthando Mbumbulwana challenging Siviwe “Dzudzu” Hasheni for the SA junior-featherweight crown.
Former SA lightweight champion Viwe Mdletyeni will try to get his career back on track after he was upset by Mlamli Madikane in his first bout after a lengthy doping ban.
Mdletyeni will take on Junior Asoya in a lightweight clash.
Fana goes back to his roots
Fana will headline a bumper show when he defends the WBA Pan-African junior-lightweight crown against Mdantsane’s Themba Shicila.
The veteran boxer was born in the Ngxakolo Village but had to relocate to Khayelitsha in Cape Town where he made a name for himself when he won two IBF world junior-lightweight titles.
He achieved this when he beat Malcolm Klassen and Cassius Baloyi to first win and regain IBF crowns.
Throughout his illustrious career he has been known as a Cape Town boxer even earning the moniker of “Rose of Khayelitsha” when he should have a name reflecting his area of birth.
Now after 20 years in the wilderness, Fana comes back home to display his talent in front of his people.
“Fana’s homecoming is long overdue but I am glad that Mhlontlo Municipality have seen the importance of bringing back the son of the soil to fight in front of his people and inspire the youngsters to follow a career in boxing,” says Siphatho Handi, boss of Mamali Promotions who will stage the fight.
However the biggest challenge has been finding a proper venue to host the fight with organisers resorting to using a school hall.
“We could not find a proper venue so we had to use Little Flower Junior Secondary School hall,” said Handi.
The wisdom of holding such a big tournament in a school hall is yet to be determined.
Besides the clash between Fana and Shicila, the tournament features a WBA Pan-African, two SA title bouts and the WBF Africa title clash.
Handi and Boxing SA-Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs visited the area and decided on the school hall which is said to have a volume of 700.
“Although I okayed it but my fear is that the school is right in Fana’s village so you can expect it to be filled to capacity,” said Jacobs.
Asked why he put on such a mega tournament in a rural area when it can fill any venue in East London, Handi said he did not want to short-changed the people of Qumbu.
“I want the people of Qumbu to watch first-class boxing right in their doorsteps so that their kids could be inspired to take up boxing as a career.”
Shicila, who has enjoyed a resurgence since joining DownTown Boxing Club, holds the WBF International title and has promised to send Fana to retirement in front of his people.
“I take it that Mzonke’s relatives will be there so they will advise him to quit after the beating I will dish out to him,” said Shicila.
In the main supporting bout Simpiwe Konkco from Mthatha will put his SA and WBA Pan-African mini-flyweight crown on the line against Sibusiso Twani.
Another clash involving a Transkei boxer will be between Nyandeni’s Luthando Mbumbulwana challenging Siviwe “Dzudzu” Hasheni for the SA junior-featherweight crown.
Former SA lightweight champion Viwe Mdletyeni will try to get his career back on track after he was upset by Mlamli Madikane in his first bout after a lengthy doping ban.
Mdletyeni will take on Junior Asoya in a lightweight clash.
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