Mulovhedzi vows to take Yoyo out in his home territory
TSIKO Mulovhedzi warned yesterday that what Ali Funeka did to Mzolisi Yoyo is nothing compared to what he will do to him when they meet at East London’s Orient Theatre tonight.
Funeka stopped Yoyo in the fourth round, ending his reign as the SA junior welterweight champion at the same venue on May 31 last year. Now the former champion – who has joined veteran trainer Dowie Mzini in Mdantsane – has challenged Mulovhedzi, who rules the welterweight division with an iron fist.
Nicknamed “Cruel Junior ” after his father, who was the reigning champion of Musangwe – the annual bare knuckle fights in Venda – Mulovhedzi will bid for the fourth defence of the belt he won in 2012.
The boxer, who remains only the second current national champion from Limpopo, is trained in Gauteng by Charles Mabunda and John Tshabalala.
“I will knock that guy [Yoyo] out badly, ” said Mulovhedzi, who is not worried that he will face Yoyo in his backyard. “I am the national champion, not a provincial one.”
Mulovhedzi stopped Mzoxolo Ndwayana in the sixth round in East London on December 13. The fight tonight will form part of the “Night of the Champions ” bill that will be staged by promoter Ayanda Matiti of Xaba Promotions and Events.
“I hope Ali will be in attendance because he is the man I want after dealing with Mzolisi,” warned Mulovhedzi, who wants to challenge Funeka for his IBO belt. Mulovhedzi has eight wins in 18 bouts, while Yoyo has 22 wins in 28 fights.
The main bout of the tournament pits rookie Xolani Mcotheli against veteran Malcolm Klassen in a 12rounder for the vacant IBO International junior lightweight title.
Mcotheli is the current IBO Intercontinental titleholder and has only a single loss in 12 fights. Klassen, a former two-time IBF and WBF junior lightweight and current WBO International lightweight holder, has 29 wins from 37 bouts. There will be two more international championship fights as well as a national title fight. These fights will be televised live by SuperSport.
Elsewhere, all former and current champions have been asked to bring their belts to Southdale Mall, Johannesburg, for a meet-and-greet session where there will be a skipping rope competition tomorrow. Promoter Jeff Ellis said any member of the public who believes they can skip is invited to try their luck. He said the idea was to re-introduce boxing to the public. Action starts at 11am.