Having closed the year with two major world champions, SA boxers are set to contest for more world titles after the release of the latest world ratings.
Mdantsane’s Siyakholwa Kuse is the highest-rated SA boxer, occupying third spot in the WBC ratings but Sada-born Landile Ngxeke is the most likely to get a world title shot owing to his lofty listing by the IBF, WBC and WBO.
The Mdantsane-trained boxer is rated seventh by the WBC and IBF, with the first and second spots vacant.
The WBO places Ngxeke fifth though three boxers above him will probably be removed as they are scheduled to fight for titles of other sanctioning bodies.
Second-rated Mexican David Cuellar is scheduled to challenge Japan’s Junto Nakatani for the WBC title while third-placed Juan Francisco Estrada’s career is undecided.
Fourth-placed Daigo Higa will challenge compatriot Seiya Tsutsumi in an all-Japanese clash for the WBA, leaving Ngxeke with a chance to face top-rated Christian Medina if the Mexican does not get a direct shot at champion Yoshiki Takei.
Ngxeke’s promoter, Ayanda Matiti, who attended the WBO convention in Puerto Rico to lobby for his boxers, said the plan was to give Ngxeke one more fight while waiting for the division to settle.
“Ngxeke is going to challenge for a world title this year come rain come sunshine,” he said.
“He is so close he can even smell it and all we need to do is tread carefully because the boxing landscape can suddenly change without warning.”
The closest shot is the WBO (Ngxeke holds the boxing body’s intercontinental belt), but Matiti does not rule out an IBF title challenge, especially if the fighter is granted an elimination bout for the top or second spots.
Third-rated Englishman Charlie Edwards has a scheduled bout, as does sixth-placed Australian Jason Moloney, which will shake up the ratings, while fourth-ranked Takuma Inoue is coming off a loss after surrendering his WBA belt to Tsutsumi.
Other highly rated Eastern Cape boxers include Mdantsane’s Thulani Mbenge, who occupies sixth spot in the WBC ratings and 13th in the IBF (welterweight), Mthatha’s Sikho Nqothole, who is listed 11th by the IBF (junior-bantamweight), former IBF champion Sivenathi Nontshinga (rated at both junior-flyweight and flyweight) and Matiti-promoted Mpumelelo Tshabalala (ranked sixth and ninth by the IBF and WBO respectively).
SA has two major world champions in Phumelela Cafu, who holds the WBO junior-bantamweight belt, and Kevin Lerena, who rules as WBC bridgerweight king.
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