Celebrity weigh-in expected to draw full house
Gompo Hall is expected to be packed to capacity when celebrities Mafa Bavuma and Betusile Mcinga undergo the weigh-in of their highly publicised exhibition match at East London’s Orient Theatre on Sunday.
The clash has captured countrywide attention due to the popularity of the pair, with the venue expected to be full despite the high ticket prices.
Bavuma, an Umhlobo Wenene breakfast show co-host, has been training for six weeks under the tutelage of renowned boxing trainer Caiphus Ntate in Gqeberha while Mcinga, a gospel singer, prepared under Mthetho Dumezweni in Mthatha.
Bavuma, renowned for his guffaw, was his usual jovial self at the midweek premedical promising to knock out Mcinga.
However it was Mcinga who showed better boxing ability, while opting to reserve his predictions.
The undercard featuring unbeaten Lelona Siyo and Enathi Stelle for the vacant Eastern Cape junior bantamweight crown is a toss-up encounter.
Unbeaten in three fights with two stoppages, Siyo will face his biggest test against the talented but unfortunate Stelle who has been the victim of controversial decision losses to spoil his fight record, which now shows four losses and as many wins.
However the NU7 Mdantsane boxer is highly talented, having bounced back from his controversial loss to Gcina Makhoba in Durban to beat Nasiphe Mdlangazi in Kirkwood in August.