Xaba Promotions is tipping its show scheduled for East London’s Orient Theatre to be the best despite competing with two others next weekend.
In a busy weekend of boxing starting with the launch of the National Boxing Championship at the Arena Holdings building in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Friday, XP will also have the Last Born Promotions show scheduled for Sunday to contend with.
However, it feels its Human Rights show on Saturday next week is the event to go to, having stacked it with evenly matched bouts including a world youth title and the local derby for the SA junior-flyweight crown.
“There is no doubt that our tournament is the best of the lot and people know quality when they see one,” XP boss Ayanda Matiti said.
“We are not in the business of watering down other events because we like to stay in our lane and do our own stuff with no fuss.
“But having a world youth title and the SA belt pitting two Mdantsane boxers is bound to produce fireworks.”
Duncan Village’s Siyabulela Hem will make his international foray when he vies for the WBO world youth junior-featherweight belt against hard- punching Ghanaian Enoch Tetteh, while SA junior-flyweight champion Siseko Teyisi risks his newly acquired crown against Abongile Jacob.
Hem and Tetteh are evenly matched in almost every sphere, with the 23-year-old West African boxer a year older.
Both have lost and drawn once, with Tetteh’s 14 bouts four more than Hem’s and also boasting a superior knockout percentage.
The same statistics will mirror the Teyisi-Jacob bout as both are unbeaten, with the 19-year-old champion having knocked out all his six foes while Jacob has fought two fewer bouts.
However, at 31, Jacob boasts life experience having taken a break in boxing while empowering himself for life after the sport.
The show will also mark the return of Jacob’s stablemate, Moyisi Booi, after suffering his first professional loss when he was knocked out by Ndabezinhle Phiri in September.
Booi, a former amateur star, will move up to the junior-bantamweight class to take on Sihle Jelwana whose involvement in the tournament initially looked unlikely after facing possible suspension for fighting in Tanzania without authorisation.
However, Boxing SA took a lenient stance and allowed Jelwana and his counterparts to get off on a warning, paving the way for him to continue with his career.
Former XP star Nhlanhla Tyirha also makes a return to his old home when he takes on Phumlani Maloni in a mini-flyweight clash, while Sinovuyo Mthintelwa continues his quest for honours at the expense of Masivuye Philiso in a flyweight encounter.
Top-rated bantamweight contender Likho Sigaba will also make an appearance as he keeps active while waiting for the decision on the SA title status.
Daily Dispatch
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