By Monwabisi Jimlongo
In a bid to make sure that he keeps himself busy, South African champion John ‘Section 29’ Bopape has signed a contract to face off against Russian boxer Gleb Bakshi in Russia next month.
Bopape, the reigning SA and African Boxing Union (ABU) middleweight champion, clashes with the Moscovite, who won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games, in an eight rounds bout on Friday, 8 September.
“I decided to take this fight because I want to keep myself busy as it looks like no one here at home wants to challenge me for my title. I’m also aiming to win and get rated internationally,” Bopape, who won his last five fights by stoppages, said.
Bopape from Alexandra, Johannesburg, has defended his SA title twice since dethroning Nkululeko Mhlongo in April last year. He scored stoppage wins over Ayanda Mthembu in March this year and Snamiso Ntuli in July last year.
Currently, there are only two boxers – Mthembu and Gauteng champion Donjuan van Heerden – who are rated in the SA middleweight division.
