By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Rightly or wrongly, boxing purists still reckon that Duncan Village boxer Yanga ‘Showtime’ Sigqibo was not impressive in his last three fights here at home.
And Sigqibo gets a perfect opportunity to silence his critics as he clashes with Namibian boxer Jonas Matheus in an international bout at a TLB Boxing Promotions tournaments at Vodaworld in Midrand on Saturday.
This is going to be Sigqibo’s first fight here at home since his win over Tanzanian boxer Luqman Ngambogali at the Orient Theatre in East London in July last year.
Sigqibo is also fighting for the first time since he was outpointed by former World Boxing Organisation (WBO) minimumweight, junior-flyweight and flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka in Japan last December.
“This fight is just about me winning again and regaining my confidence. You will recall that I lost my last fight, which was in Japan. I want a good performance, not just a win. I want to make a statement and show people that Showtime still has it,” Sigqibo said.
Sigqibo, a former national junior-bantamweight champion, is the third South African boxer to face off against Matheus.
The Namibian lost to former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight champion Gideon Buthelezi in East London in July 2021 and defeated Makazole Tete in Mthatha three years earlier.
