Big fight night for Ndlambe
Can Magadaza live up to his name as the ‘Destroyer’?
It’s almost upon us, the time when Ndlambe residents and visitors make their way to the Titi Jonas Community Centre at Thornhill to witness an evening of South African boxing champions.
Residents will also be cheering-on our own Ndikho “Destroyer” Magadaza from Ndlambe on Sunday when he takes on Thembelani “Guitar Man” Okolo from Port Elizabeth in a 12-round battle for the World Boxing Federation’s vacant International Mini-Flyweight belt this Sunday.
The fight, which was originally scheduled for September 1, was postponed due to damage to Magadaza’s hand.
“Magadaza has worked relentlessly and has recovered from his injury,” said his trainer and coach, Mbulelo Veto.
“He has been training in earnest over the last few weeks in order to prepare for this important World Boxing Federation (WBF) title fight for the International mini Flyweight belt.
“We are in for another great show of boxing and there will be no excuses on the day.”
Veto has been instrumental in organising boxing events in the area as well as training boxers for a number of years.
Zulu Sports Promotions are the promoters of the fight night that will showcase nine bouts including the title fight itself.
World Boxing Federation president, Howard Goldberg, will present the WBF belt to the winner of the main bout.
The 60-year-old hails from Cape Town and, as a schoolboy, represented SA in chess at the Maccabiah Games.
Goldberg is well qualified as a successful judge and refereed for many years before being elected as president of the WBF in 2009.
Originally formed in 1988, the organisation had failed until Goldberg refashioned it in 2009 to become a major player in the boxing world.
On the evening’s card, Sibusiso Trower (Uitenhage) takes on Masixole Mbanga (Dimbaza) over four rounds in a featherweight clash. Flyweight Yanga Ndoyana (Motherwell) faces off against Mzabantu Dabaza (Uitenhage) over four rounds.
Siyabonga Mtsatse (Ndlambe) fights Bongani Fule (Makana) over four rounds, and flyweight Yanga Vaba (Motherwell) faces Sesuthu Menziwa (Mdantsane) over four rounds.
Bantamweights Mbulelo Mkenkeni (Motherwell) and Sphosethu Zingela (Makana) will fight over four rounds.
Watch out for the six-round super middleweight contest between Anthi Mahanjana (Mdantsane) and Lungelo Dube (Makana) which should prove to be a bruising encounter.
Also on the card is a six-round flyweight clash between Bongani Silila (Mdantsane) and Sonwbo Twatwa (Makana).
In the bantamweight division former all-Africa champ Luzuko Siyo (Duncan Village) will go toe-to-toe with Nasiphi Mdlangazi (Cape Town) in a six-round encounter.
Boxing is always well supported in the area and fans have not seen a world title fight fought in Ndlambe before.
The crowds should flock to Titi Jonas on Sunday to see if Magadaza can live up to his name as the “Destroyer”.
The weigh-in will take place at the Heritage Mall on Saturday outside Heritage Mall Pick n Pay, the sponsors of the kit for Magadaza.
The event will take place at the Titi Jonas Centre at 2pm this Sunday (October 6).
Tickets are priced at R60 each or R100 per couple and will be available at the door on the day.