The last time Sharoddene Fortuin was in action, she left so much to be desired.
In fact almost everyone watching her bout against Asindiswa Nxokwana was convinced she had lost by a big margin.
The southpaw Nxokwana was scoring with damaging blows and at the time using Fortuin as target practice.
That the stage was set for Fortuin was that the bout was promoted by Last Born Promotions in Mthatha in July ensured that Nxokwana would not leave the ring as a winner.
Fortuin’s performance was in stark contrast to the sublime display she had shown in her previous bouts.
Against Nxokwana she was lumbering and ponderous with wild swings which made it easy for her foe to pick her apart with crisp punches.
On Sunday Fortuin returns to the ring determined to wipe out the distaste left by her performance against Nxokwana.
She will face Thema Zuma in a bantamweight scrap designed to bring her back to the title shot contention.
Her manager Mla Tengimfene is confident that Fortuin will regain the form which made her a star with some even rating her as the best female fighter in the land.
“Shazz is working hard and she understands that she needs to perform in this fight,” said Tengimfene.
Born in Seymour, the lass had to relocate to East London to pursue her boxing aspirations.
She hopped from club to club but it was under former world champion Welcome Ncita that she began to show her true potential.
In one of her best performances she engaged in a fight of the year with Brazilian Simone da Silva, emerging with a deserved and well received points nod. “There is no doubt that Shazz can fight, we just need to find each other to bring out the best in her.”
With a single loss in 12 bouts and a draw, a loss she suffered at the hands of current WBF champion Bukiwe Nonina whom she has been chasing down for a rematch, Fortuin is still capable of making her name in the game and achieving big things.
But she will need to start performing against Zuma to appease her detractors...