Mafa Bavuma, Bethusile Mcinga overshadow boxing premedical
The premedical for Sunday’s celebrity bout between radio personality Mafa Bavuma and Bethusile Mcinga completely overshadowed the real bout on the card, as scores of people jostled to take photos with them at Gompo Hall on Wednesday.
Bavuma and Mcinga will face off in an exhibition bout contested at 79kg catchweight at East London’s Orient Theatre.
The real bout will see Lelona Siyo and Enathi Stelle contesting for the vacant Eastern Cape junior bantamweight crown in an Aphile Boxing Promotion show.
While the clash between Siyo and Stelle promises to produce fireworks, it was the exhibition bout that grabbed plenty of attention at the premedical.
The stage was initially subdued when Mcinga, a gospel singer, posed for photos on his own while waiting for Bavuma to arrive.
Accompanied by his trainer Mthetho Dumezweni, who has been putting him through a rigorous training programme for six weeks, Mcinga, who has a reserved personality, appeared to go through the motions without much fanfare.
However, the stage erupted into life when Bavuma, renowned for his guffaw on Mhlobo Wenene’s Breakfast Show, arrived shouting: “The champ is here, move over.”
Suddenly there was pandemonium in the venue as people tried to prevent him from getting to the podium to take pictures with him.
When he finally got to the stage, he stripped off his top and dared Mcinga to show his physique, even though he himself had some flab around his abdomen.
When Mcinga obliged, Bavuma attempted to throw a punch at him, sparking a melee amid laughter from the onlookers.
The bout will be contested over four two-minute rounds with 16-ounce gloves, with amateur (now open boxing) officials handling it.
Bavuma promised to knock out his opponent within the distance but added that he wanted a rematch over six rounds next year.
Asked why he would demand a rematch when he would win the bout, he retorted: “I have put it in the contract because I want to beat him twice to leave no doubt.”
Dumezweni, who steered Luthando Mbumbulwana to an EC junior featherweight title defence against Sonwabile Marenene in Mthatha at the weekend, commended Mcinga for quickly grasping boxing technique within a short period of time.
“I have been teaching him the basics and I am amazed at how quickly he absorbed everything,” he said.
“After this fight, I want all these other celebrity bouts against the likes of Cassper Nyovest and NaakMusiQ.”
A host of activities have been planned for the weekend starting on Saturday including the appearance of other celebrities such as NaakMusiQ.
The champ is here, move over