There will be no room for sentiment when hot boxing prospect Amila “Auditor General” Gongqa comes up against Sithembiso Maduna in a tasty featherweight clash at Selborne Park in KuGompo City on September 26.
Gongqa makes a quick ring return after his last bout in June, when he needed less than six minutes to destroy Sange Ngoza to register his second professional win in less than a year.
He dramatically announced himself in the paid ranks with a first-round demolition of Zoyiso Sandi in April, after an illustrious amateur career.
While he dispatched his last two opponents with ease, the 18-year-old rising star from Duncan Village will face his sternest test against KwaZulu-Natal’s Maduna, who already commands a good rating in SA rankings.
Gongqa’s mentor, Mzamo Njekanye, admitted that his prodigy was in for a tough test against the battle-scarred veteran of 20 bouts.
“This is it for us because Maduna will not be a walk in the park,” he said.
“He has been up against the best boxers in the division and will not meekly surrender to what he considers a novice.
“But this is the stage in which my boy thrives when he is under pressure to deliver.”
Njekanye, whose clan name is also Maduna, said there would be no room for family sentiment when Gongqa faced his KwaZulu-Natal foe.
“I know we are both Maduna, but all that will be left outside the ring.
“We want Maduna’s scalp to help our own career progression.
“If anything, he should be the one stepping out of the way as he has been there, done that.”
Maduna was last in action in February when he bested Tholumusa Ngema in a KwaZulu-Natal derby in Durban, reeling in a second victory after escaping with a split decision over Khanyiseni Mbokazi in October.
The wins snapped a two-bout losing streak for Lindokuhle Khuzwayo and Ardy Katompa, who scored second- and third-round stoppages, respectively.
Maduna has already fought in KuGompo City when he came up short against Mdantsane’s Asanda Gingqi, getting stopped in 11 rounds in an SA featherweight title challenge in 2022.
The loss marked his third stoppage defeat of his sixth overall, swaying the odds in Gongqa’s favour to bag another knockout win.
The fight will form part of Xaba Boxing Promotions’ show headlined by Gingqi defending the SA junior lightweight belt against unbeaten Katlego Khanyisa.
XB boss Ayanda Matiti said a win would help Gongqa crack the ratings in his quest to realise his potential.
“He will need to prove he is the real deal in this fight, as he is made out to be.”
