Boxing tournaments aplenty as the year draws to an end
Fights will help boxers have a Merry Christmas
This year Christmas will come early for the families of some of the local boxers, thanks to a flurry of year-end tournaments in the offing.
Nine tournaments by eight promoters will bring festive cheer to several boxers, starting with the December 2 event in Limpopo. The tournament by Phathutshedzo Dongola’s Champs Boxing Promotions will be staged at Ngoako Ramatlhodi Sports Complex in Seshego, Polokwane.
In the headline bout, the province’s only national champ Jeff Magagane will be up against Zolisa Batyi.
A day later Hlengiwe Dladla of Hle-Jobe Boxing Promotion will host an international tournament at Majuba TVET College Hall in Dundee, KZN.
About 14 fighters will be in action there, with Gcina Makhoba opposing Roberto Paradero for the WBF juniorbantamweight vacant belt in the main attraction.
On December 10, Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves will stage a five-bout card at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.
It will feature a trilogy between Akani Phuzi and Johnny Muller. Chris Thompson will put both his SA and ABU heavyweight belts on the line against Keaton Gomes.
Then the following day, three tournaments will take place. Tewo Promotions will welcome fans in East London where rising star, SA supermiddleweight champion Asemahle Wellem, will oppose Freeman Mabvongwe from Zimbabwe in an ABU SADC vacant title. Fourteen fighters will be in action in this tournament.
In Durban, Jacob Mnisi’s J4Joy promotions will stage a six-championship event at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Zulu king Misuzulu KaZwelithini will launch and present the Bayede Royal Belt to the winner of the KZN junior-welterweight vacant title between Nthethelelo Nkosi and Lindokuhle Dlamini.
Ronald Malindi will challenge for the vacant WBF bantamweight against Jorge Orozco Mendoza of Mexico in the main attraction.
Then on December 16, Larry Weinstein’s Boxing 5 will stage a development tournament at Booysens Gym in Johannesburg. It will feature about 20 mostly young and fight-starved fighters.
Mark Farah and Bonke Duku will headline the event with a 10-rounder for the Gauteng welterweight title.
Closing the year will be SA Promoters Association chairperson Ayanda Matiti’s Xaba Boxing Promotions on December 23.
Matiti will be celebrating 15 years as a force in boxing with an international tournament at East London’s ICC. WBA Intercontinental junior-bantamweight holder Phumelele “The Truth” Cafu will defend against reigning SA flyweight champ Jackson ‘M3” Chauke.