Khuse, Nyangani in mouthwatering SA title clash
Tewo Promotions planning a Youth Day tournament that promises to be memorable
An eagerly-anticipated boxing match will play out when SA mini-flyweight champion Siyakholwa Khuse defends his crown against Bangile Nyangani at the Orient Theatre on June 13.
The tournament promoted by Tewo Promotions features Lusanda Komanisi defending his ABU lightweight belt against Sinethemba Bam.
Tewo Promotions boss Happy Tewo had promised to deliver a tournament to remember after braving coronavirus restrictions by organising a show in a church hall when all municipal facilities were closed during the peak of the pandemic in December.
And judging by the show he is stacking up for June 13 to coincide with Youth Day, he is on his way to fulfilling that promise.
“I said my second tournament would eclipse my maiden show and the Khuse-nyangani bout is in line with that promise,” Tewo said.
Both boxers have illustrious amateur careers though they never shared the ring due to the age difference.
Khuse was still a junior champion when Nyangani was part of the SA senior team.
However, their futures have taken a different path with Khuse the first to get professional accolades while Nyangani has yet to parlay his talent to big things.
After dominating the junior ranks, Khuse did not wait to be part of the senior team as he quickly turned professional at 18.
The hard-punching left-hander needed just three bouts before daring to challenge Xolisa Magusha for the SA crown.
Despite fighting in only his fourth professional fight, Khuse displayed skill belying his age when he matched the veteran Magusha punch for punch and appeared to have outsmarted him, only for the judges to deny him the victory.
He appealed against the decision and after reviewing it using five independent judges, Boxing SA agreed with him and ordered a rematch.
However, Magusha had already committed to defending his title against Sibusio Bandla, forcing BSA to order the winner to face Khuse.
After being dethroned by Bandla, Khuse had to take on the new champion and gave him a systematic beating before knocking him out in five one-sided rounds to become the new king.
Nyangani, who hails from Mthatha but trains in Johannesburg, was first to challenge then reigning champion Siphamandla Baleni with just four bouts under his belt.
He dropped a gutsy decision loss which prompted him to trek to Johannesburg where he has been fighting among others Bandla, whom he battled to draw against.
Nyangani is an early favourite to dethrone Khuse due to his experience and quality of opposition in 11 bouts with a single loss record.
However, the NU8 champion has proved capable of holding his own against the best in the division despite his modest five bouts, one loss and a draw resumé.
“This fight has war written all over it and I hope when it happens spectators will be allowed into the venue to savour it,” Tewo said.