Move over Azinga Fuzile, here comes another star.
This seems to be the general feeling going in boxing circles after Nhlanhla Tyirha gatecrashed the professional ranks following his dominant amateur career.
So far the 19-year-old has fought just two times but already he has set tongues wagging about his boxing exploits.
On Friday he will take the quantum leap in class when he faces third-rated Luyanda Nkwankwa in a Xaba Promotions show at Mdantsane Indoor Centre.
Should he beat Nkwankwa he will earn a mandatory spot to challenge the SA junior-flyweight title held by Bongani Silila.
Already his handlers have their sights set on Silila’s title.
“With all the talk about Azinga’s ring exploits which I must admit is justified, Tyirha will surpass him,” said Tyirha’s trainer Andile Msimang.
“Just as Azinga did his bit to remove the old order in boxing, Tyirha will do the same to Nkwankwa.”
Azinga Fuzile burst on to the scene as a four-fight novice to dethrone experienced Macbute Sinyabi to win the SA featherweight title.
The win made him an overnight sensation with comparisons to the all-time greats such as Vic Toweel.
But if Tyirha beats Nkwankwa, in only his third fight, and then dethrones Silila in his fourth, he will make his own waves.
Still a schoolgoing kid at Simnikiwe High School where he is doing Grade 11, Tyirha has won everything there has to be won in the amateur ranks.
He is a four-time national champion, having been voted as the best boxer in each and every tournament he participated in.
The boy has won medals since he was 11 years old.
Training at Philani Boxing Club – which has a reputation as a breeding ground for talent at NU7 Mdantsane, having produced boxers such as Ali Funeka and Mfundo Gwayana – Tyirha is definitely in the fast lane.
And he has a compatible promoter in Matiti, who is renowned for not wrapping his boxers in cotton wool.
“At XP we believe in giving boxers their opportunities to prove themselves in the ring,” said Matiti.
Similar bold moves by Matiti has backfired in other instances.
But Matiti is allaying fears about that happening to
Tyirha.
“This boy is destined for stardom, mark my words,” he argues.
Indeed Tyirha may go all the way especially as he will be facing Nkwankwa, who is renowned for his laziness in training. Silila has also seen better days giving Tyirha a big chance of dethroning him if they wound up fighting.
For now Nkwankwa is the first on the list as the teen guns for his own space in the history books...