The time has arrived for Duncan Village boxer Ayabonga Sonjica to be let loose against the best.
This is according to his Johannesburg trainer, Sean Smith, ahead of Sonjica’s IBF Intercontinental and SA junior featherweight title clash against Bongani Mahlangu at East London’s Orient Theatre on Sunday.
Sonjica, a London Olympian, has seen his peers scale boxing’s heights while he has yet to make his mark at international level.
His fellow London Olympians Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and Errol Spence Jnr already hold multiple world titles, with Joshua and Usyk scheduled to rematch for three of the world heavyweight titles in Saudi Arabia on August 20.
Spence is set to unify world welterweight titles with Terence Crawford on a date yet to be determined.
Smith feels Sonjica’s career stalled due to a number of factors including Covid-19.
Sonjica, who is also based in Johannesburg, celebrated his 31st birthday on Monday, an age when he should have already campaigned on the world boxing stage.
“JJ is not young any more and I am glad he is fighting for an IBF intercontinental title because that will help him improve his rating,” Smith said.
“I know his career has not moved the way one would have liked due to a number of factors, but there should be no holding him back now.”
Sonjica was last involved in a competitive fight when he dethroned Innocent Mantengu for the SA crown in September 2019.
After that he was unfortunate to see scheduled fights fizzle out with the bout against Ghanian Theophilus Teteh which had been set for April 2021 in Gqeberha being called off at the 11th hour when the foreigner failed a medical test.
He returned to easily knock out overmatched Tanzanian Kasimu Hamad Haji in a bout that was less competitive than a sparring session.
While Mahlangu is a veteran of 42 years, he still presents a formidable opposition, especially as he has a history of beating up Eastern Cape boxers, before he eventually came short against Ludumo Lamati.
Smith feels Mahlangu will give Sonjica rounds he so desperately needs, despite his advanced age.
“Mahlangu beat someone in Tanzania and again went there and was so robbed that they declared the title vacant so he is still formidable.”
Mahlangu upset Tanzanian Tony Rashid to win the ABU junior featherweight title before being robbed in a rematch.
Depending on his performance against Mahlangu, Sonjica should again return to action by September, Smith hopes.
“I want JJ to fight three times this year.
“After Mahlangu, he should return by September before closing the year with another bout, then I will be a happy man.”
The bout will form part of the long-awaited return of Rumble Africa Promotions, which will see them throw all their top boxers into the event including Azinga Fuzile, Yanga Sigqibo, Lerato Dlamini and others.
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