The bout of Mdantsane’s Asanda Gingqi next week will carry a double storyline as he will be taking a big step towards replicating his amateur success while also avenging the unjust decisions against his compatriots.
Already a two-time SA champion, owing to his featherweight and junior-lightweight reigns, Gingqi will be vying for the continental crown when he clashes with Tanzanian Tony Rashid for the ABU junior-lightweight belt at the Abbotsford Christian Centre next Friday.
The fight will form part of the celebration of the 1976 generation presented by Xaba Promotions, headlined by the return of world-rated Landile Ngxeke battling for the WBO intercontinental and IBF international bantamweight titles against Mexican Eric Gamboa.
While Ngxeke will be carrying the card in probably his last fight before being involved in a bout with world-title connotations, the spotlight will be on Gingqi to exact revenge on Rashid after two SA boxers were screwed against him.
Fighting in the comfort of his country, Rashid has been the beneficiary of questionable decisions against SA boxers Bongani Mahlangu and Sabelo Ngebiyana, who needed a stoppage to come out victorious in Tanzania.
Mahlangu first forced a 12th and last-round stoppage when they battled for the ABU junior-featherweight belt in September 2021.
In the rematch five months later, Rashid managed to finish the fight on his feet and was rewarded a split decision, leaving Mahlangu crying foul.
A year later, it was the turn of Komani-born Ngebiyana to taste the Tanzanian bias when he was given only a draw despite dominating the bout.
To make matters worse, Ngebiyana was initially declared the loser despite one judge scoring the bout in his favour, while the other had it even, prompting him to protest before the outcome was changed.
Rashid, who suffered one of his three losses in 23 bouts, with three draws, against Belgian Hovhannes Martirosyan in Limburg, also holds a stoppage win over KwaZulu-Natal’s Siboniso Gonya.
Though he is considered a protected boxer back home where visiting boxers hardly get decisions, he has again agreed to leave his Tanzanian comforts to come to East London despite being aware that he is a wanted man.
“It is time Gingqi avenges the losses of Mahlangu, Gonya and Ngebiyana,” XP boss Ayanda Matiti said.
Having won numerous international amateur championships, Gingqi wants to translate the success to the professional ranks by winning the ABU title, which often helps boxers crack the WBC rankings.
In his first international professional bout, he easily knocked out Filipino Jufel Salina in five rounds in June for his ninth stoppage in 15 bouts and a single loss.
At 31, he is racing against the clock to replicate his amateur run at the professional level by testing his skills on the world stage.
Daily Dispatch
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