SIMPLY BEST CHANCE FOR GABI
WBF junior featherweight champion Gabisile “Simply the Best” Tshabalala, her trainer Elias Mpembe and promoter Mxolisi Gumede were in a buoyant mood yesterday before they jetted off to Lusaka where Tshabalala will challenge WBC bantamweight champion Catherine Phiri in Lusaka on Saturday.
Mpembe, the lesser known trainer from Evaton, has guided Tshabalala to both the South African bantamweight and WBF junior featherweight belts. Gumede on the hand was chief negotiator with the hierarchy of the WBC to give Tshabalala the chance to challenge for the most sought-after green and gold WBC belt.
“We have done all we should to be in the best shape ever and fortunately we were able to see Phiri’s fights,” said Mpembe.
“We will make it difficult for Catherine to get into gear. We will come back with the WBC belt. This is the biggest opportunity ever to have been afforded a local female boxer, so a win will definitely put our country on the map and also open doors for other ladies.”
Meanwhile, self-exiled former SA and IBO welterweight holder Chris “The Heat” van Heerden will make a comeback to the local ring against Namibian Sacky “Izinyoka” Shikukutu at Emperors Palace on October 22.
Van Heerden is based in Santa Monica in California.
He last fought in South Africa in 2013. In his fights under American management, he won three fights but lost one via a seventh round stoppage to highly revered American prospect Errol Spencer Junior in Canada.
But Van Heerden rebounded well in April by defeating Steve Claggert over 10 rounds in Las Vegas.
His fight will form part of Golden Gloves bill that will be headlined by the final of the Cruiserweight Super Four between Kevin “KO Kid” Lerena and Mickie Nielsen from Denmark.
In another bout on the night, Hekkie Budler and Luzuko Siyo will fight for the vacant WBA Pan African junior flyweight belt.