Mdantsane knock-out specialist Lonwabo Sizani has promised to preserve his winning streak when he faces Namibian Errikie Errikie for the WBC silver youth junior lightweight title at the Guild Theatre on Saturday.
Sizani will be going for his first title in his novice career, which has taken off in a big way, winning his five bouts all by knockout.
The feat has made him a household name in local boxing, with his stock rising to dizzy heights, while boxers with the same number of fights are still finding their feet.
His promoter, Mzi Booi of KayB Promotions, who will stage the tournament, decided to unleash him on to the international scene by going after the youth belt to steer him towards world ratings.
“It is important that Sizani gets international experience as early as now to develop into a well-rounded boxer,” he said.
“We expect Errikie to test him because he comes from a boxing breeding country.”
The Namibian has an equal number of fights to Sizani, with a single loss and two stoppages.
However, he only beat one opponent with a winning record, making him a big underdog against the local hero.
This has emboldened Sizani to predict another short route and claim his first trinket.
“He is going the same way others before him have gone,” he said.
“This is not to mean I am underestimating him because he took the fight confident of his abilities, but he will go back home empty-handed.”
Sizani was badly shaken in his last bout when Aphiwe Magobiyane wobbled him with a big left hand in November at the same venue.
However, he recovered and knocked out his taller foe with a body shot in the fourth round, marking the first time he had gone beyond the second round.
The tournament will also see amateur start Sinovuyo Mthintelwa defend his provincial flyweight belt against Siyamthanda Mbali, four months after winning it in Mthatha.
While he hardly raised a sweat when he took under six minutes to destroy Luxolo Gunguto to win the title, Mthintelwa is expected to be tested by Mbali, who is one of the prodigies of former SA champion Sikhulule Sidzumo.
This will also be the case for Qhamani Mhlana when he risks his provincial mini-flyweight belt against Athenkosi Thunzi.
Trained by another former champion Siviwe Hasheni, Mhlana is on a rebound after going through a rough patch when he failed to win in three successive bouts.
Thunzi also had a stumble when he suffered his first loss against Nqaba Dantile and had a controversial stoppage win over Azile Nkwankwa before claiming a split decision in their rematch in the November show.
Another potentially explosive clash will see Duncan Village southpaw Awonke Tini vying to return to winning ways against unbeaten former provincial bantamweight champion Likho Sigaba in a featherweight duel.
Tini dropped a points decision in a fire-fight against former SA champion Zolisa Batyi in December before fighting to a draw against Sihle Booi in January.
Daily Dispatch
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