While some trainers would demand title shots for their boxers after emphatic knockout victories, Sean Smith is in no rush to see his Eastern Cape trio challenge for belts.
Smith said this after Thulani Mbenge, Tiisetso Matikinca and Ayabonga Sonjica scored devastating knockouts in their welterweight, bantamweight and junior-featherweight bouts, respectively, at the Sun Bet Arena in Pretoria at the weekend.
Mdantsane’s Mbenge knocked out Namibian Emmanuel Mungandjela with a single left hook in the third round, with Sonjica doing likewise when halting Sanele Maduna in four rounds to mark his second win in as many bouts after more than a two-year layoff.
Matikinca needed just two rounds to destroy Mbulelo Gabula as he bids to move up the bantamweight ratings in pursuit of a title shot.
Though it was not the defence of his IBO title he won when beating Englishman Michael McKinson in October 2024 Mbenge’s win is expected to boost his chances of a world title unification against WBC champion Marios Barrios.
Sonjica is also expected to crack the national ratings and boost his quest to regain the SA title now held by his Duncan Village homeboy, Siyabulela Hem.
Some raised eyebrows when he could not be rated after beating Thato Bonokoane, who is ranked in the international category.
Smith, however, said that Sonjica, who has refused to be drawn into verbal barbs with Hem over the title he once held before being upset by veteran Bongani Mahlangu in July 2022, would likely gun for the title before the end of 2025.
“Again, Jay Jay wants to get as many bouts after a long layoff before he can talk about the title shot.
“But before the end of the year, he will likely be in a position to challenge it,” he said.
Matikinca, whose lowly fifth rating has been scoffed at, has expressed interest in facing higher-rated contenders such as his Mthatha homeboy, Lusizo Manzana, and even champion Landile Ngxeke.
But Smith played down the expectations, emphasising the 20-year-old Matikinca was still young and would continue with his development to gain more experience.
“There is no rush for Matikinca to challenge for the title, we want him to gain experience,” he said.
“Boxers have ambitions, and he is no different; hence, he wants all these big fights, including a title shot, but in reality, we still have time on our side.”
Matikinca has won all but two of his seven bouts by stoppages to emerge as one of the brightest prospects in the game.
Smith denied reports that Matikinca had left Xaba Promotions, under whom he fought all his bouts before beating Gabula in a Dewald Mostert Promotions.
“We still enjoy good relations with XP and are grateful for how they developed Matikinca into the prospect he is now, but when we got an opportunity to fight in a big tournament under Dewald Mostert, we could not turn it down.”
Smith insisted that Mbenge was still proudly an IBO champion and would defend it in his next bout, barring a unification.
Daily Dispatch
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