By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Fight-starved former national champion Phila Mpontshane has joined United Boxing Club under Amanda ‘Jahman’ Magatya in Mdantsane.
Mpontshane is yet to lace his gloves in an official bout since he lost his South African junior-lightweight title to former champion Sibusiso Zingange in February last year.
The SA junior-lightweight title has changed hands three times since Mpontshane lost it. Zingange was dethroned by Lunga Sitemela in May last year and the Dordrecht-born former champion relinquished the title after he won the World Boxing Federation (WBF) belt in June this year.
Asanda Gingqi from Mdantsane is now the reigning SA junior-lightweight champion after he outpointed Sifiso Hlongwane last month.
“I have known Ta Man for a long time. We worked together before when I was trained by Ncedo Cecane. I came here to work with someone who knows me very well. I get comfortable when I work with someone who knows me,” Mpontshane said.
Rated number four in South Africa, Mpontshane still dreams of regaining the SA junior-lightweight title. And he promises to work hard and fulfil that dream.
“The aim is to get a warm-up fight and thereafter I will go straight to Gingqi. He’s got what belongs to me. I want that belt,” Mpontshane remarked.
