Duncan Village rising star Siyabulela Hem will take a giant step in his young career if he becomes the first SA boxer to fight for the world youth title in East London on March 16.
While this could not be officially verified, boxing historian Ron Jackson said his records did not show any previous SA fighter fighting for a world youth title.
“In my recollection, no SA boxer has ever challenged for a world youth title, probably because fighters aspire for the fully-fledged world crown,” he said.
While the records are vague, Hem going for the WBO youth belt will definitely be the first.
His handlers are engaging the WBO hierarchy to find him an opponent for the junior-featherweight title.
In an email, WBO’s Diana Melendez confirmed to Hem’s promoter, Xaba Promotions, that the junior-featherweight belt was vacant for Hem to contest.
Hem qualifies to contest the youth title owing to his age of 21, with the limit having been extended to 25 years old.
Hem holds the SA title, having defended it once against the same boxer he dethroned in September.
He seized it from veteran Bongani Mahlangu and ended his good run against Eastern Cape boxers by beating him on points in Midrand, only for Boxing SA to order a rematch after reviewing the fight.
Hem totally dominated the rematch, flooring the 45-year-old veteran in each of the three rounds the bout lasted before it was stopped in East London in December.
He was expected to defend against Mxolisi Zuma, who had agreed to step aside to allow the Mahlangu bouts, but XP opted to use the voluntary window period to chase a bigger fish.
“I had already discussed plans with the WBO to consider Hem for the youth title and now it is the time for him to begin his international journey,” XP boss Ayanda Matiti said.
Matiti has been blowing Hem’s horn, anointing him as a future world champion and his starting with the youth title is geared towards fulfilling such predictions.
This is even though Mahlangu remains remaining the biggest foe Hem has beaten.
The win over Mahlangu was his eighth in 10 bouts with a loss and a draw, with detractors feeling he needs to prove that he is the goods by inflicting the first loss on Zuma, who is the knock-out specialist having stopped all his nine opponents.
Daily Dispatch
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