By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Ayanda ‘Greyhound’ Nkosi has stated that reclaiming the South African lightweight title is non-negotiable as he challenges current national champion Khaya Busakwe at the Meropa Sun Casino in Polokwane this coming Friday.
Nkosi, a former SA and World Boxing Federation (WBF) lightweight titlist, is confident that he’s going to dethrone Busakwe, who will be attempting to make a first successful defence of the title he won via a third round stoppage of Lusanda Komanisi at the Orient Theatre in East London in March this year. Fight referee Siphiwo Mbini ruled the bout as a technical knockout win for Busakwe after Komanisi had dislocated his shoulder.
“I was once an SA champion and will become one again on Friday. My coaches and I made a mistake after I won the SA title. We saw an opportunity to fight for the WBF title thinking that it was going to open more doors for me. But that never happened as the WBF is not that busy,” Nkosi said.
With 33-year-old Soweto-born Busakwe’s nine victories being knockouts, Nkosi from Katlehong in Ekurhuleni has admitted that his opponent knows his way inside the ring.
“He’s a good boxer just like all lightweight boxers including me. I cannot judge him on his last fight, which was against Komanisi because of what happened. None of us know what would have happened had the fight gone the 12 rounds. Busakwe possesses everything that can make him successfully defend his title. But I’m not going there to beg him to give me the title. I’m going there to take what is mine,” Nkosi remarked.
