Mthalane insists he still packs a mean punch

hard training session

One of the true gentlemen of SA boxing‚ Mthalane spoke highly of his opponent‚ although not too highly.

“He’s a good boxer‚ a dangerous boxer‚ but I will beat him.”

“The Jackal”‚ as Diale is known‚ lost in his bid for the WBO version of the flyweight title in 2011‚ getting stopped by Julio Cesar Miranda.

Mthalane‚ who beat Miranda for the vacant IBF crown in 2009‚ said other world champions ducked him when he was the champion with his previous trainer/manager‚ Nick Durandt.

“[He] tried to unify‚ nobody agreed.”

Mthalane has held four titles in his career‚ also including the SA and WBC International belts‚ and he’s never lost one in the ring‚ relinquishing all of them.

His last defeat came against Filipino star Nonito Donaire‚ then the IBF flyweight champion‚ in Las Vegas in late 2008‚ when the bout was stopped in the sixth round after he suffered a cut on his left eyelid.

“He said to me after the fight I was the most difficult opponent he had faced.

“He told me I would become a world champion‚” recalled Mthalane‚ who has fulfilled that prophecy twice since.

Now he’s hoping to do it a third time.

Mthalane has a record of 34 wins (23 by KO) and two defeats‚ while Diale‚ 29‚ has 33 wins (16 KOs)‚ 11 losses and four draws.