Bell laments Poland loss, seeks redemption in home title bout

National boxing champion Nozipho Bell is still hopping mad over her “loss” in Poland where she was adjudged to have dropped a points decision to unbeaten local lass Ewa Brodnika for the world title in October 2018.

“We experienced what it means to first-hand fight in a foreign country where everything is just against you,” said her manager Caiphus Ntante.

The fight for the WBO female junior-lightweight title was the biggest for the Port Elizabeth boxer and despite the overawing experience, Bell actually held her own before the cards were read against her.

Now she is itching to get back into the ring and this time her target is another former world champion Unathi Myekeni.

The clash will be held on March 8 at Nangoza Njebe Hall in Port Elizabeth with female promoter Mbali Zantsi as an organiser.

The WBF junior-light title will be at stake giving Bell an opportunity for redemption.

Already ruling the roots as the national champion in the division with three title defences, Bell, who remains the lone national champion from Port Elizabeth in both the male and female categories, wants to get back to winning ways.

However, she is aware of the danger posed by the veteran Myekeni who is cousin sister to former IBO world flyweight champion Mhikiza Myekeni.

“To be honest we would have preferred to fight someone else but this an opportunity we cannot let slip,” said Ntante.

Myekeni is a former WBF champion in the junior-featherweight which is two divisions below Bell’s weight class.

However, she has been able to compete in the junior-lightweight with indifferent outcomes.

The fight is slated to serve as a co-feature to golden girl Noni Tenge’s ring return against Esther Mashiya also defending her WBF junior-middleweight crown.

Tenge, the only female boxer to win a major world boxing title in the land when she won the IBF welterweight crown in 2010, has returned to PE after a stint in Johannesburg under Sean Smith gymnasium.

The Mdantsane-born boxer has aligned herself with Ntante’s club – Caiph Camp – which is swelling the ranks after being joined by other big names including top-rated juniorfeatherweight boxer Innocent Mantengu.

“Yes Noni is part of my club and we are looking to hit the ground running,” Ntante confirmed.

We experienced first-hand what it means to fight in a foreign country where everything is just against you