Jackson is a confident, decent fighter – Makondo
Boxer dismisses talk that fight is a mismatch
It is unclear if Khensahosi Makondo is being modest or genuine when he says he does not endorse the opinion from the general fight public that his fight against newcomer Jackson Kaptein is a mismatch.
They will exchange leather over eight rounds at Dr Molemela Indoor Centre in Mangaung, Free State on Friday night. This tournament will be jointly organised by promoter Lebo Mahoko and the Free State government.
“I would not look at the fight as being a mismatch,” said Makondo yesterday. “Agreeing to this fight means that Jackson believes in himself.”
Asked if he had seen Kaptein in action before, Makondo said: “I have seen him twice before; he’s decent as a fighter and has got power.”
Kaptein, who will enjoy home advantage, is undefeated after five fights with two knockouts while Makondo from Limpopo boasts seven knockouts in seven wins against five losses. He is coming off a punishing topsy-turvy eight-rounder with tough Congolese Jacques Muvuud that was declared a draw.
Kaptein is a prospect whose opponents should be carefully selected.
He seems to have all the tools but no- one knows if he has the heart and chin because he has not been tested against stiff competition.
Makondo is rated highly locally at No 5 and has his eyes on the national title. Kaptein is yet to get rated.
Most eyes will be fixed firmly on the main event – the rematch between national middleweight champion Nkulukeko “Bulldog” Mhlongo and John “Section 29” Bopape.
Bopape defeated Mhlongo on points in their non-title 10rounder in Durban last year.
Meanwhile, veteran female fighter Matshidiso Mokebisi should overwhelm overmatched Zimbabwean Cecilia Pitiseni over eight rounds.
Mokebisi has fought 24 times, winning 14 of those fights. Pitiseni, who lives in Namibia, has two wins from eight fights. Nosicaswe Dube will take on Pitiseni’s homie Sehliselwe Nhliziyo over six rounds.
There will be three more undercard fights.