Mothibedi vows to defend WBF title
The stage is set for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Super Bantamweight as Onkarabile ‘Scara’ Mothibedi defends his title tonight at the Grand Palm. Last year, Mothibedi became the first professional boxing champion from Botswana to win the vacant WBF title.
Mothibedi won the title by a unanimous decision after 12 hardfought and entertaining rounds against Tshepang ‘Gear Box’ Babui.
Tonight, he returns to his hunting ground, the Grand Palm, looking to claim Moabi ‘The Eagle’ Ngaka’s scalp. The two boxers are facing each other for the first time. Mothibedi intends to dominate Ngaka and prevent the challenger from snatching the title in the 12 rounds bout. Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Mothibedi said he has been in camp since June but had to take a break after the bout was postponed due to COVID-19. “I then started preparing to defend my title in September. I have not fought against Ngaka before but that does not scare me because I believe that I have done everything that needed to be done in preparing for this fight,” he said.
Mothibedi added the plan is to analyse Ngaka in the first rounds. He said his strength is on his left hook. “I am going to drop him with a left
hook. My plan is to watch him in the first rounds, check out his fitness and then strike in the last rounds. He has never fought 12 rounds so that is a plus for me. He is used to four-round bouts so it will get tough for him as the fight goes beyond four rounds,” Mothibedi said. Scara is coached by Ookeditswe Bobeile and managed by Isaac Pheko. The challenger said he decided to go for the title and he knows that he is going to floor the defending champion.
Ngaka said he started preparing for the bout in September and everything has been going smoothly. “I am going
to win this match by landing a few uppercuts on Scara. I am a trained professional boxer and I know how to handle myself at the beginning of the bout. Even if he takes his time to study me, it is not an issue for me,” Ngaka said.
Thebe Setlalekgosi trains Ngaka under the Drad Boxing club. Thuso Khubamang of Scud Missile Promotions is the fight promoter. There are five other bouts featuring boxers from Zambia and South Africa with a first ever professional women’s boxing fight featuring Simangele Hadebe and Patience Masitara.