Women’s boxing may be in the doldrums, but rising star Okuhle Mthi is aiming high after becoming a front-runner for the female upset of the year title by beating SA champion Nozwelethu Mathontsi in November.
Coming in as a four-fight novice with just two wins and as many draws, Mthi not only upset the applecart in a bout where she was used as a late replacement, but she may have punched her own ticket to big fights this year.
And despite beating her more experienced adversary, who holds the SA junior-flyweight title, Mthi is not happy that the title was not at stake in the fight.
“We submitted a challenge for Nozwelethu’s title, but somehow her promoter did not want to put the title at stake,” manager Ace Mshumpela said.
“Instead the promoter gave Nozwelethu another opponent, only to revert to us when she withdrew at the last minute.”
Despite being given short notice to prepare for the fight, Mthi grabbed the opportunity with both hands, setting a high pace and outsmarting her foe in the trenches.
“We knew that Nozwelethu is a slow starter so we decided to set a high pace for her and not allow her to box.
“We dominated the fight from start to finish and this was Okuhle’s biggest win of her professional career.”
Mshumpela, whose Luvuyo Tyamzashe gymnasium in NU7 Mdantsane keeps churning out champions, had told those willing to listen that Mthi was destined for stardom.
He tried to convince promoters to feature her in their tournaments, but some were reluctant, citing out-of-the-ring issues as causing their disinterest.
“I know her dedication and commitment to the cause, so I did not doubt that she would prove everyone wrong.
“But what better way to do it against the reigning champion in only her fifth bout?”
Mshumpela, whose charge is also rated top in the flyweight division, said the goal was to take the belt from Mathontsi in a rematch to unleash her potential.
Beating Mathontsi is her biggest scalp, especially as her promoter Xaba Promotions even attended the WBO Convention in Puerto Rico to plead her case to be given a world title shot.
But Mthi’s potential faces a risk of being compromised due to the apathy engulfing women’s boxing, which has rendered SA champions inactive.
With the new Boxing SA board having assumed office, there is hope that all is going to change, with reports of a potential financial injection doing the rounds.
The disbanded board was accused of not taking women’s boxing seriously despite inheriting the Women-In-Boxing Series programme designed to punch the sport into shape.
The series is yet to show tangible results.
But Mshumpela said he would use all his resources to ensure Mthi got her day in the sun.
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