By Monwabisi Jimlongo
With less than a month before his next fight, Nhlanhla ‘Mount Kilimanjaro’ Tyirha fears nothing even though he’s going to fight against someone who has stopped eight of his last 10 opponents.
Tyirha clashes with Filipino boxer Miel ‘Silent Assassin’ Fajardo in a vacant World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Intercontinental junior-flyweight title fight on Friday, 16 June.
The 23-year-old Fajardo has done very well in his last 10 fights – winning nine and drawing once since his loss to fellow Filipino boxer ArAr Andales in August 2017.
“I feel like getting into the ring now. We have been preparing for this fight for some time now and I believe I’m ready,” Tyirha, a former South African junior-flyweight champion, remarked.
“We are aware that my opponent has done well in his last 10 fights. But that does not scare me. This is a very important fight, which I must win because winning it will get me closer to challenging for the world title. We know what’s expected from me and I’m going to deliver.”
Mdantsane-born Tyirha, who has eights wins (two knockouts) and a loss, enjoys good ratings in the top four major world boxing bodies. He’s rated seventh by the WBO, sixth on the World Boxing Council (WBC) ratings, rated 12th by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and is fifth on the International Boxing Federation (IBF) ratings.
On the other hand, Fajardo is a quality opponent, who is rated seventh by the WBA. Fajardo has an impressive record of 10 victories (nine stoppages), one defeat and two draws.
