The spotlight may be on the historic WBC bridgerweight title defence by Kevin Lerena against Serhiy Radchenko at the Sunbet Arena in Pretoria on Thursday, but a pair of Eastern Cape boxers will be looking to steal the show.
Lerena will make his maiden defence of the belt against Ukrainian Radchenko in a first-ever WBC title defence held in SA.
Mthatha’s Tiisetso Matikinca and Thulani Mbenge of Mdantsane will be looking to make their mark in career-advancing bouts, with Matikinca vying to improve his unbeaten record against Mbulelo Gabula in a bantamweight scrap.
Rated fifth for the SA belt held by Landile Ngxeke, with some pundits believing he deserves a higher spot, Matikinca will be taking a stay-busy bout after attempts to match him against Lusizo Manzana in an all-Mthatha clash fizzled out.
The former amateur star was looking to supplant Manzana’s third spot to boost his chances of contesting for the title, likely to be vacated by Ngxeke.
“The fight against Manzana was close to being made for East London, but somehow it fizzled out,” he said.
“But I am willing to face anyone, including Ngxeke, so I must keep beating up everyone put in front of me until I get my day in the sun.”
Mbenge, who was last in action when he beat Englishman Michael McKinson in October, will take on Namibian Emmanuel Mungandjela in a non-title clash.
The Namibian is enjoying a four-fight winning streak, though at 37, he is at the twilight of his 25-bout career (four losses).
Mbenge is hoping a win will propel him to more world title opportunities, owing to his high rating by the WBC, which places him seventh for the title held by Mario Barrios.
“I just want to keep winning to open up more opportunities,” he said.
Mbenge, whose two losses in Europe are the only blemishes in his 23-fight record, has never lost to an African boxer.
And at 33, he is racing against the clock to finally get a shot at one of the four major world sanctioning bodies’ titles, powered by his IBO world belt.
Daily Dispatch
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