By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Given a choice, boxing trainer Thembani ‘Best’ Gopheni would let Lusizo ‘Speed Fire’ Manzana’s next fight, which is against Landile Ngxeke, be promoted by Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP).
Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen as the vacant bantamweight title fight is scheduled to be promoted by Xaba Promotions on Saturday, 16 December.
“Any boxer turns professional with the hope of fighting for the South African title. I’m very happy for Manzana. I would have been extremely happy had this fight been promoted by Rumble Africa, a promotional company that took Manzana to be where he is at the moment. But there’s nothing I can do to change the situation. We have to be happy that our boxer gets an opportunity to fight for the title,” Gopheni said.
Manzana from Mthatha was due to have fought for the bantamweight title against the late former champion Ronald ‘King’ Malindi early in July. But the fight never took place as Sean Smith, who trained Malindi, decided against travelling to East London without his assistant.
Meanwhile, it’s going to be Mdantsane against Qumbu when Asanda Gingqi clashes with Thembani Mbangatha in the same Xaba Promotions tournament.
Gingqi will be making the first defence of his SA junior-lightweight title when he fights against Qumbu-born Western Cape champion Mbangatha.
This is one fight that should have taken place when the two boxers were campaigning in the featherweight division. However, it never took place as Gingqi fought against Abdul-Azziz Kunert to win the then vacant SA featherweight title.
Gingqi became a two-time SA champion after he defeated Sifiso Hlongwane, who was not rated in the junior-lightweight division, in a controversial fight held in Orlando East, Johannesburg, in August.
