Work ahead for Comeback Kid

AZINGA Fuzile is not the only bright prospect who was touted as the next big star after only his first fight in the professional ranks.

While the Duncan Village southpaw has lived up to expectations, some of his peers have fallen on the wayside.

One such talent that promised a lot in only his second fight is Mthatha-based Siseko Makeleni.

The youngster exhibited breathtaking talent and fluidity as he tore into opposition with impunity.

Competing in the junior-featherweight division – a division below Fuzile’s featherweight – Makeleni endeared himself to his fans with a swagger that included performing dance moves while pummelling his foes into submission. This earned him the “Majayivana” moniker. But reports of ill-discipline started to make rounds bringing into question his potential to rich the boxing summit.

But wheels started to come off when he was matched with homeboy Zama Zokwe who administered a severe beating to hand him his first loss.

Makeleni then hopped from one club to the other even joining revered Mthatha trainer Madoda “One More Time” Dyonase who is renowned for unearthing the talents of Simpiwe Konkco and Siphamandla Baleni to name but a few. Dyonase was also in Zokwe’s corner when he beat Makeleni. But after one training session, Makeleni left the club. “I realised that he wanted to be given a special treatment because he considered himself as a star,” said Dyonase.

“In my club there are no stars. Everybody is treated equally here so I was not going to succumb to a boxer who had just joined us. I told him as such and asked him to leave if he was not comfortable with that arrangement.”

While Fuzile has collected three accolades already including the SA and WBC youth titles, Makeleni will only try to win the provincial title when he faces Phumelela Sobahle for the vacant junior-lightweight crown.

The fight, to be organised by Fireworks, was originally scheduled for this Sunday at Mdantsane Indoor Centre but has since been postponed to March 5.

Since his loss to Zokwe, Majayivana has bounced back with a win over Dumisani Tose to position himself for the title challenge.

He will have a perfect gut-check in Sobahle who is unbeaten in four fights including a sensational first round knockout of veteran Mbuyiselo Besta. — DDR