The camp of Duncan Village star Siyabulela Hem could finally breathe a sigh of relief after securing him an opponent for his WBO Youth junior-featherweight title clash in East London in March.
The SA champion will begin his first international title quest when he faces off against Ghanaian knockout specialist Enoch Tetteh in a fight which has been moved from this Sunday to March 29 at East London’s Orient Theatre.
The 22-year-old Hem will come up against an opponent who is almost his age and similarly sports one loss and a draw, but boasts a better knockout percentage.
The 23-year-old West African has won 12 bouts, with only two opponents able to see the distance.
The fight record almost mirrors that of Hem, whose eight wins, a loss and a draw make him a novice compared with his adversary.
Tetteh suffered his lone loss to unbeaten Tanzanian star Ibrahim Mafia, who beat Eastern Cape boxers Sabelo Ngebinyana and Lusizo Manzana in his last bout in December.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Hem’s camp is oozing confidence about his first international bout.
“These two are almost evenly matched and this should be a cracking fight involving rising stars who both want to make a name for themselves on the international stage,” fight promoter Ayanda Matiti of Xaba Promotions said.
“I think Hem has fought better opposition, which gives him an edge to deal with whatever Tetteh brings, but you can never underestimate West African boxers.”
Whether Hem has indeed fought better opposition is up for debate, with veteran Bongani Mahlangu remaining the only name-foe he convincingly beat.
Hem sprang a surprise by relieving Mahlangu of his national title on points in Midrand in September.
Mahlangu appealed against the outcome, with Boxing SA siding with him after a review by ordering a rematch in East London in December.
The rematch proved more conclusive for the new champion as he bludgeoned the 45-year-old former title-holder to the canvas in each of the three rounds the fight lasted.
Despite becoming the first boxer to hand Mahlangu a systematic beating, detractors factored the veteran’s age in his loss.
On the other hand, Tetteh’s loss was against one of the continent’s rising stars who is yet to be toppled.
The fight will form part of XP’s Human Rights commemoration featuring the maiden SA junior-flyweight title defence by champion Siseko Teyisi against Abongile Jacobs.
Daily Dispatch
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