Standout amateur fighter Sinovuyo Mthintelwa’s wait to make his professional debut will finally come to an end on August 4, when he faces Aphiwe Nxazonke in a junior bantamweight bout at East London’s Orient Theatre.
Mthintelwa, affectionately known as the “Pink One”, has been itching to fight for pay since leaving the SA Amateur team, having won a plethora of medals and represented the country at international championships, including the world champs in Uzbekistan.
He was part of the exodus of top amateur boxers to the professional ranks but had to start at the beginning by undergoing the sparring sessions at the Sisonke Boxing Cub in Mdantsane NU 8, where he impressed the judging panel in May.
While his amateur stablemates, Moyisi Booi, Siseko Teyisi and Tisetso Matikinca, are already making their names in the paid ranks, the 23-year-old has had to wait for his time.
Matikinca, Booi and Teyisi are on the verge of fighting for SA titles in their respective divisions after knocking out their highly rated opponents in East London a fortnight ago.
The trio registered their fourth victory in as many bouts.
Matikinca knocked out Sanele Maduna in three rounds in a bantamweight bout while Booi and Teyisi destroyed Rhofhiwa Maphupha and Lebogang Pilane in one round apiece in junior-flyweight and flyweight fights, respectively.
Another former amateur star, Simnikiwe Bongco, also made his professional debut at the weekend, fighting to a draw against Zimbabwean Ashington Ziwakaya in a middleweight duel.
Teyisi’s former gym mate, Amzolele Dyeyi, has also tasted the professional set-up.
Mthintelwa’s manager, Khwezi Booi, said the long wait was caused by the reluctance of opponents to accept a fight against his charge.
“We are glad Nxazonke has manned up and taken the fight,” he said.
Though Mthintelwa has yet to prove himself in the professional ranks, Booi believes a challenge for the SA title challenge is not far off.
“If it were up to me I would throw ‘Pink One’ in against the champion because I know he is that good.
“But the protocol dictates otherwise so we will follow the due process before going after the national belt.”
Though Mthintelwa will be afforded a platform to showcase his talent by BBB Promotions, Booi said the young man would remain a free agent until he established himself in the game.
However, Booi is mindful of the fact that putting too much pressure on youngsters to perform could backfire, as it nearly did with Bongco and Matikinca.
“Fighting professionally is another thing and the stage and pressure can become too big for some of these former amateur stars.
“It nearly happened to Sive Nontshinga in his second professional fight and we saw what happened to Bongco.”
Nontshinga, who is Mthintelwa’s stablemate, was nearly upset by Lusizo Manzana, who has become his gym mate, while Matikinca struggled in his professional debut against Mamelo Sithole.
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