Makhanda’s Ndwayana out to prove a point
Makhanda’s Mziwoxolo Ndwayana is looking to dethrone Eastern Cape welterweight champion Odwa Gaxa when the two meet in the Battle of the Giants boxing tournament in October.
The tournament will be staged by the NMB Boxing Promoters’ Association in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton on October 2.
The event will form part of Heritage Month celebrations, which embrace cultural diversity.
In the main bout, Nozipho Bell will be defending her SA junior lightweight title against Ntombokuqala Tolashe, from Cape Town.
Ndwayana vacated the Eastern Cape title after winning the SA welterweight belt in 2012, which he lost to Thulani Mbenge in 2020.
The 34-year-old said a win over Gaxa would improve his ranking and set him up to challenge for the SA title once again.
“I want my belt back so that I can up my rating so that I can once again challenge for the SA title,” Ndwayana said.
“Currently, I am ranked number three in my category in SA.
“I fought against Gaxa in 2019. I was defending my SA welterweight belt which I had at the time.
“I won the fight in round seven.
“I just recently lost in Namibia on March 19 against Charles Shinima in the second round for the WBO Africa welterweight belt.
“Ever since, there have been talks that I have lost my mojo and I no longer have what it takes to win fights.
“So, on October 2 at Nangoza Jebe, we want to show people that I still have some winning power in me, it’s not the end of the road for Ndwayana.
“We’ve been preparing well for the fight.
“I have the stamina to go all the way through 10 rounds if my opponent is capable to do so because we have prepared for the full distance.”
Other fights will be between Tuvia Wewege and Siphesihle Bottomani in a cruiserweight six-round fixture, while Mbulelo Gwabeni will be up against Buleleni Ngondeka in a featherweight four-round fight.
Asanda Gangqa takes on Mbulelo Gubula in a junior bantamweight four-rounder while Siphesihle Mkhonza faces Siphesihle Sityo over four junior-flyweight rounds.