Following a points loss to Uzbekistan boxer Hasanboy Dusmatov in Russia on Monday last week, Siphamandla ‘Toytoy’ Baleni is now planning to challenge for the South African minimumweight title, which is held by Siyakholwa Kuse from Mdantsane.
However, Baleni will have to wait a little bit as Kuse is scheduled to clash against Khalid Kalama Ally from Tanzania in an African Boxing Union (ABU) mini-flyweight title contest at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sport Centre in Komani on Sunday, 3 December.
“Baleni is still at home in Mthatha now. He will be back at training on Monday next week. We know that Kuse is gonna be due for a mandatory defence after his upcoming fight. We will challenge him after we have discussed it with Baleni after his return next week,” Paradise Boxing Club manager Thembelani Hlombe said.
The 32-year-old Baleni held the SA minimumweight title between 2016 and 2017. He won the title after he outpointed Daluxolo Mangcotywa in July 2016. He made two successful defences against Thembani Okolo and Bangile Nyangani before he was dethroned by Xolisa Magusha in December 2017.
Baleni, who has 21 wins, six losses and two draws, went on to win the SA junior-flyweight after he beat Nwabisile Cholani in May 2021. He then defended it once against Mpumelelo Tshabalala, who is now the champion, in October 2021.
Meanwhile, Baleni is rated number one in South Africa, ninth by both the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO).
And after being rated eighth by the International Boxing Federqtion(IBF) last month, the New Jersey-based body has dropped Baleni from the top 15 of its current ratings.
