The last time Ayabulela Xatyana was in the boxing ring, the spectators held their breath, praying for the recovery of his opponent.
Xatyana had knocked out Carlos Mahlathi, who remained on the canvas convulsing, sparking medical personnel to rush to attend to him.
The fight at the Guild Theatre in August had taken a turn for the worse as Mahlathi was pummelled around the ring, prompting calls for the referee to stop it.
His handlers were also not spared for allowing him to come out for the fourth round after being knocked down in the previous one.
As Mahlathi lay prone on the canvas, he suffered seizures, violently twitching his legs.
Fortunately, he was eventually stabilised and managed to leave the ring of his own accord.
But the incident put the spotlight on Xatyana’s power, which he is confident of using to dethrone Sanele Magwaza when he challenges him for the provincial junior featherweight title at the Lillian Ngoyi Hall in Kwazakhele, Gqeberha, on Saturday.
The bout will be part of the Uncle Shapes Promotion show staged in association with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, dubbed Gqeberha versus East London, to revive the rivalry between the two regions.
The other will involve Mdantsane’s Lubabalo Kweyi taking a major risk against Kariega knockout artist Bandile Daniels in defence of his provincial junior lightweight belt.
While the Kweyi-Daniels clash is evenly matched, Xatyana is already anointing himself as a champion, vowing to end Magwaza’s reign, similarly to how he dealt with Mahlathi.
“Xatyana is unstoppable and we have no doubt that he will deal with Magwaza because we are aiming high,” trainer Vuyisa Khonzani said.
Khonzani has been working with Mdantsane fitness fanatic Zolile “Gqo” Mahamba, who has produced a slew of talent, including SA and IBF Intercontinental champion Siseko “Panda” Teyisi.
Xatyana has knocked out two of his three opponents, with only Zenathi Qheya able to see out the distance in his professional debut in Makhanda in October.
We know his seek-and-destroy mentality from the amateur ranks and he is continuing with it
On the other hand, Kweyi will have his hands full against former amateur star Daniels, whose brute power in the unpaid ranks used to be kryptonite for East London boxers.
The Kariega slugger has taken his knockout prowess to the professional ranks, with only one opponent managing to go the distance with him in four bouts.
Kweyi’s trainer, Ncedo Cecane, admitted that his charge would have his hands full against the power puncher.
“We know his seek-and-destroy mentality from the amateur ranks and he is continuing with it,” he said.
“But his skill set is not on Kweyi’s level so we will have to use our technique more and not go to the trenches with him.”
Cecane, who also trains SA mini-flyweight champion Thinumzi Gqola, has roped in Thembani Gopheni, who trains his son, Sivenathi Nontshinga, a former two-time world champion, to assist him.
The East London entourage leaves for Gqeberha on Friday to be on time for the official weigh-in.
Daily Dispatch
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