By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Keeping his ratings in top world boxing bodies is going to be key to two-time South African champion Siphamandla ‘Toytoy’ Baleni as he’s fighting against 2016 Olympic gold medallist Hasanboy Dusmatov from Uzbekistan at the Red Arena, Krasana, Polyana in Russia on Monday.
Baleni, a former SA minimumweight and junior-flyweight titlist, last fought when he stopped Mzamo Makhipheni at East London’s Orient Theatre in December.
Actually, Baleni is yet to fight since he moved from Xaba Boxing Club to reunite with Khangelani Jack at Paradise Boxing Club in Nxarhuni in January. Jack has since left Paradise Boxing Club for Rock Solid Boxing and Fitness Gym in Benoni, Ekurhuleni.
“We are fighting against someone which I would say we don’t know much about except what we saw in the videos we watched. He’s still an up and coming boxer,” Baleni said.
The 32-year-old Baleni from Mthatha fully understands the pressure that’s going to come with fighting in a hostile environment.
“This is the first time I’m fighting overseas. But it’s not a problem to me. I’m not afraid of anything,” Baleni remarked.
Currently, Baleni is rated in ninth place by both the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) while he’s eighth in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) ratings.
On the understand, the 30-year-old Dusmatov, who is based in California in the United States, is rated number two by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Meanwhile, this is going to be former WBA ‘Super’ featherweight, International Boxing Organisation (IBO) bantamweight and featherweight champion Simphiwe ‘V12’ Vetyeka’s first assignment as a professional boxing trainer.
The 42-year-old Vetyeka, an erstwhile SA bantamweight champion, obtained his trainer’s licence from Boxing South Africa (BSA) last week.
Baleni has a professional record of 21 wins (eight knockouts), five defeats and two draws while Dusmatov has won all his five fights with stoppages.
