The tension between Siyabulela Hem and Bongani Mahlangu as they posed for photos before their rematch was so thick one could cut it with a knife.
Having exchanged verbal jabs during national radio interviews throughout the week, they met at Thursday’s premedical examination in East London for the first time since their September clash in Midrand where Duncan Village’s Hem relieved Mahlangu of his SA junior-featherweight crown.
Mahlangu, from Boipatong, appealed against the outcome, with the Boxing SA review committee siding with him, leading to the rematch scheduled for East London’s Orient Theatre on Saturday.
The 45-year-old Mahlangu, who surprisingly shaved his beard which conforms with his Rastafarian religion, said he had done so after he was victimised by the officials in their first fight.
“They kept telling me to trim it by this much so this time I decided to come with a clean face to have nothing to distract me from the fight,” he said.
The left-hander refused to continue the war of words with his 21-year-old adversary, who confirmed that he had still been very young when Mahlangu conducted a reign of terror in the region.
“I only became aware of him when he beat Sonjica [Ayabonga], but I never thought I would one day fight him,” he said.
“I hear he is blaming the officials for giving me the fight, but to save him from excuses I will not let this rematch be decided by judges.”
Mahlangu, whose son Bheki Maitse — also a professional boxer — is older than Hem, retorted: “Young man, show some respect to me because I am old enough to be your father.”
The fight will headline a Xaba Promotions show televised by SuperSport and featuring two other SA title bouts, with Mdantsane’s Siseko Teyisi vying for the vacant junior-flyweight belt against Mfanavule Ntuli of KwaZulu-Natal.
Teyisi, who has knocked out all five of his opponents, said Ntuli would be the sixth victim, while the 28-year-old visitor said he would make his fists do the talking.
Mdantsane’s Asanda Gingqi, who defends the junior-lightweight title against Khanyisani Mbokazi, promised to retain his belt.
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