Skeleton vows to turn Dlamini’s Lights Out
Two boxers meet for the WBC title in High Noon showdown
Bony-structured former SA champion Sydney “Skeleton” Maluleke has promised to destroy rising star Lerato “Lights Out” Dlamini when they meet for the vacant WBC International title at Emperors Palace on Sunday.
This will be the main bout of the Golden Gloves tournament.
Maluleke, 35, who is also a former IBF Continental Africa featherweight champion, has been around since 2004, with nine knockouts in 17 wins against eight losses. On the other hand, Dlamini, 22, is a greenhorn with six KOs in 10 wins against a loss.
The tough youngster – whose stunning seventh round KO of Sinethemba Bam earned him Boxing South Africa’s 2017 knockout of the year award – fought his first professional fight in 2015.
“I am going to hammer this boy. My hands will be doing the typing. Lerato has not fought a smart boxer like me and fans will be entertained,” said Maluleke.
The talented yet wayward boxer from Malamulele is trained in Wesbury, west of Johannesburg, by Bernie Pailman. “No doubt we will be crowned,” said Pailman.
Dlamini countered: “Sydney is 35 years old and he is talking about experience, but I fought and beat my idol [Simpiwe] Vetyeka who is [more] highly experienced than him.”
Dlamini, from Free State, upset the bookies in October when he outboxed vastly experienced former multiple world champion Vetyeka over 10 rounds.
Dlamini is under trainer of the year Colin Nathan in Johannesburg.
Their match-up, which will top the High Noon bill, has the potential to be an enthralling encounter based on their contrasting styles.
Maluleke likes to move around the ring while darting in and out to test the waters, while Dlamini is a come-forward fighter who just wants to hurt his opponent.
WBC board of governors member Peter Ngatane, who is also Boxing SA chairman, will supervise the bout, while Ishmael Koali will be the referee. Siya Vabaza, Neville Hotz and Francis Manning will be the judges. There will be six more bouts. The tournament is dedicated to ailing former South African veteran referee and judge Alfred Buqwana.
‘‘ I am going to hammer this boy. My hands will be doing the typing