The cancellation of Sunday’s boxing tournament in East London has given Johannesburg-based trainer Colin Nathan more time to concentrate fully on International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Moruti ‘Babyface’ Mthalane’s preparations ahead of his title defence against Filipino boxer Jayson Mama on Sunday, 20 December.
Nathan was going to lead Azinga ‘Golden Boy’ Fuzile and Lerato ‘Lights Out’ Dlamini to battle against opponents from Cape Town. Fuzile was scheduled to square up against Lunga Sitemela while Dlamini had a date with Toto Helebe.
However, the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern Cape has delivered a knockout blow to the Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) tournament after the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) closed down all libraries and municipal halls. This followed after some BCMM employees were infected by the coronavirus.
Now Nathan has shifted his focus to the 38-year-old Mthalane’s preparations before he clashes with the 23-year-old Filipino boxer at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
‘‘I’m disappointed with the cancellation of the tournament so are my boxers. However, I must make it clear that we blame no one for the cancellation of the tournament,’’ the 2017 and 2018 Trainer of the Year award said.
‘‘The latest developments have given me a chance to continue with preparing Moruti for his title defence against Mama. We are good and have had great sparring sessions preparing for this fight.
‘‘I have watched some of Mama’s fights. He is a good fighter, a very strong kid. He’s very game and aggressive. We have a good game plan to defend our title.’’
It’s going to be almost year since Mthalane stopped Akira Yaegeshi at the Arena Yokohama, Japan, on 23 December last year.
This is going to be the first time Mthalane fights in South Africa since 2017.
Mthalane, who has not lost in 12 years since a sixth round stoppage by Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire in a World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title challenge at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, won the IBF belt after he defeated Muhammad Waseem in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in July 2018.
Written by Monwabisi Jimlongo
