By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Ricardo Malajika sacrificed a lot during the festive season and he believes that the sacrifices he made will pay handsomely when he defends his world title in March.
Malajika is going to put his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight title on the line when he fights against Marcel Braithwaite from Liverpool, Merseyside, in the United Kingdom on Saturday, 9 March at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park.
Preparing for the fight under new trainer Manny Fernandes after Vusi Mtolo was fired from the Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy, Malajika said: “So far so good. I’m trained by Manny now. I didn’t have a break over the festive season. I believe what you put in is what you get out. Whatever seed you plant is what’s gonna grow.”
Malajika, who won the IBO title after he outpointed Argentine boxer Kevin Luis Munoz in September last year, has admitted, though, that the 29-year-old Braithwaite is more like a closed to him.
“I don’t know much about him. However, I do know that he is a great fighter, a respectable fighter. I’m preparing for everything,” the 25-year-old Malajika said.
