War Child Maemu says there’s no way he’s going to lose grudge fight
● Featherweight Rofhiwa “War Child” Maemu says he is an improved fighter, and he’ll get the chance to prove that claim at the Meropa Casino in Polokwane on Friday night.
He takes on old foe Tello Dithebe in an attempt to avenge a split-decision loss from October 2016.
“I believe we fought his fight [last time], and I also think I concentrated a lot on defence,” Maemu said at his gym in Linden, Johannesburg, this week.
“I lost against this guy then. At this moment there’s no ways I’m going to lose to this guy. I just need to be the War Child that people know,” said Maemu, who has a record of 16 wins, seven losses and two draws. “I just need to enjoy myself winning it. I just need to execute what I’ve learned in the gym.”
Second rematch
This will be the second rematch for Maemu, who turned a 2011 points loss against Prince Ndlovu into a second-round stoppage victory in 2017.
Maemu, who dropped what he believes was a dubious decision to Azinga Fuzile in East London last year, has since won the WBA Pan Africa featherweight title and defended it twice. He also registered a stoppage win over veteran Tshifhiwa Munyai. “I’ve improved. A lot of people say I’ve improved.
“I’ve come a long way . . . I’m going to enjoy myself, beat this guy up very much.”
Dithebe, with a 20-9 record, hasn’t had as much success since then, with three losses overshadowing two wins, but his conquerors were credible, like unbeaten Namibian Sakaria Lukas and most recently Khanyile Bulana for the vacant SA title.
He was also stopped by Lusanda Komanisi. “He phoned me [before that fight],” Maemu recalled. “He just told me he hadn’t been feeling well. I think he had flu.”
On Friday night Maemu will offer Dithebe pain with no sympathy.