PRODIGAL SON RETURNS
Ludumo Lamati home early for IBF bout with Mepranum
UK-based Mdantsane boxer Ludumo Lamati returned home at the weekend to wrap up preparations for his homecoming bout on Sunday.
Lamati touched down at the East London airport ahead of his highly anticipated IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight title clash against Filipino Richie Mepranum, scheduled to be held at the Orient Theatre on Sunday.
Lamati decided to relocate to England to pursue his international boxing career after struggling to get a breakthrough when he left Mdantsane to settle in Johannesburg.
“It is good to be back home and to fight in front of my supporters,” Lamati said.
He has not fought in East London for almost two years since he beat Alexis Boureima Kabore in December 2017.
He has had one fight in England when he beat Brayan Mairena at Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, in March.
Lamati’s fight against Mepranum will headline the Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) star-studded card, which also features other potentially explosive bouts.
These include the SA miniflyweight title duel between defending champion Xolisa Magusha and upstart Siyakholwa Khuse.
RAP chief executive officer Nomfesane Nyathela said Mepranum would arrive in East London on Monday.
“They are on a flight to South Africa as we speak,” she said.
“We want all the fighters to be in the city to participate in the promotion of the fight.”
Lamati is a former SA junior featherweight champion, having vacated the crown after dethroning Bongani Mahlangu to pursue international stardom.
He is one of the world title hopefuls but at the age of 27 he needs to accelerate his title march, starting by beating the Filipino, who is no slouch in the boxing ring.