Amila Gongqa may be hogging all the headlines for his impressive run at the IBA World Youth Championships, but another hot prospect, Likuthi Delanto, is also tipped as a future champion.
Trained by Zolile “Gqo” Mahamba, the 15-year-old, who is still a junior, will be one of the 30 boxers showcasing their talent during the last leg of Mpucuko Sports Development show at the NU12 Community Hall in Mdantsane on Saturday.
Like Gongqa, who goes by the “Auditor-General” moniker, Delanto is fast running out of opponents, forcing organisers to make special arrangements for him to get action in the series.
Gongqa, who will return from the World Youth Championships where he was eliminated in the last 16 after a close points loss to Tajikistan’s Damir Muibalikhonov, experienced a similar problem when opponents ran for cover when the Mpucuko boxing team fought against their Gauteng counterparts in August, losing just two bouts out of 15.
Mpucuko director Ncedo Cecane invited boxing fans to attend the event, promising to unleash youngsters to follow in Gongqa's footsteps.
“This series has unearthed exciting talent such as AG and people must come and see for themselves,” he said.
Funded by a slew of companies including the EC Liquor Board, the EC Gambling Board and MTN, the series covers all the districts of the province to unearth talent and provide a platform for young boxers to fight in front of their families and friends.
After the previous show at the University of Fort Hare hall in Dikeni a fortnight ago, the programme will end on Saturday when all boxing clubs in Buffalo City Metro battle for supremacy.
This will be by far a most competitive show, featuring boxers from Duncan Village, Mdantsane, Qonce, Ncerha and the surrounding areas, with five involving women.
Cecane, whose penchant for boxing development saw him producing unbeaten bantamweight prospect Tiisetso Matikinca before the Mthatha-born fighter ditched the SA amateur team to fight professionally in Johannesburg, said the NU 12 Hall had got the nod to host the final leg due to the area’s reputation as one of the boxing hotbeds in Mdantsane.
Besides Delanto, whose stablemates include Siseko Teyisi, another prospect taking professional boxing by storm, Amzolele “Globe Dyeyi, the area also produced former multiple world champion Zolani Tete and his brother Makazole Tete.
Other products include the Sinyabi brothers Mcbute and Sizwe, who became SA junior-featherweight and junior-flyweight champions respectively.
Macbute also won the SA featherweight title, joining other legends such as Mbulelo Mxokiswa, a former SA middleweight champion who also comes from the area.
“We could not have chosen a better venue as NU12 has produced so many boxers over the years and holding this event there will inspire youngsters to follow suit.”
Admission is free and the event starts at 10am.
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