Sibiya determined to win his first overseas fight
SA veteran fights little-known Singaporean Ridhwani for IBO International junior lightweight belt in groundbreaking battle
The opportunity to fight outside South Africa for the first time in 16 years as a professional boxer has motivated Koos Sibiya to reach even greater heights.
His fight date might be two months away but the 36-year-old known as “The Great Last Warrior” is hoping to return from Singapore a champion.
Sibiya will oppose Muhammad Ridhwani for the vacant IBO International junior lightweight title in a 12-rounder in October.
Ridhwani, 29, is the former Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) champion who is undefeated in eight fights.
“I am very much happy to be fighting for the first time out my country and also to challenge for the IBO title,” said Sibiya, whose only trip outside Gauteng was when he lost to Zolani Marali in East London in 2005.
Sibiya, the ABU Sadec and WBF Africa junior lightweight champ who has 20 wins and 10 losses, will become the first South African to fight in Singapore.
The boxer from Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga is trained in Westbury, Johannesburg, by Bernie Pailman.
“I will bring it to the kraal of Siyabuswa as I promised my people there that I will come back home as the IBO Intercontinental champion.
I do now know much about my opponent except that he is a former UBO champion.”
He said he was preparing to chal- lenge Phila Mpontshana for the SA junior lightweight belt when the offer came to face Ridhwani.
“It seems Mpontshana developed cold feet. Fortunately I got an offer to go to Singapore and I did not hesitate to sign on the dotted line.”