By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Age-defying South African champion Bongani Mahlangu strongly believes that he still has a few years to give to boxing as he continues to soldier on inside the square ring.
The 2004 Olympian is going to put his South African junior-featherweight title on the line when he clashes with Mduduzi Mzimela at the SABC Renaissance Centre in Auckland Park on Friday, 21 April.
Mahlangu, who turns 44 in October, stunned Duncan Village-born boxer Ayabonga Sonjica in front of his East London crowd stopping him in the sixth round to win the national title at the Orient Theatre in July last year.
“I’m still fit and strong. I’m not even thinking about retirement. I still have strength which I don’t know where it comes from. I’m always powerful even when I’m sparring with younger boxers. Only God will tell me when to stop boxing,” Mahlangu said.
Mahlangu from Boipatong in the Vaal revealed that he’d been preparing for the Mzimela fight since the beginning of this year.
“I’m doing well at training preparing for this fight. Actually, I have been preparing for this fight since January,” the dreadlocked champion remarked.
Meanwhile, former World Boxing Federation (WBF) and SA female bantamweight champion Bukiwe Nonina faces Zimbabwean Chiedza Homakoma for the second time in less than two years as they clash on the undercard of the Mahlangu-Mzimela bout.
Nonina from Dutywa in the Eastern Cape defeated Homakoma by a seventh round technical knockout when they fought at the Ingwenyama Lodge in White River, Mpumalanga, in December 2021.
