By Monwabisi Jimlongo
East London-based boxing trainer Lonwabo ‘Lonki’ Witbooi has added yet another South African champion to his stable at Lukhanyo Boxing Club.
Already, Witbooi has SA female bantamweight champion Sharadene Fortuin as one his boxers and fight-starved reigning SA female junior-lightweight titlist Nozipho Bell is relocating from Gqeberha to join his gym next week.
“I’m changing camps. I have agreed to move to East London to join Lonki’s gym next week,” Walmer-born Bell said.
While other female boxers enjoyed getting fights during the first six legs of the Rise of Women In Boxing series last year, it was not the case with Bell, who has not fought since she stopped Mashudu Ramakwelo in an SA title defence in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, in December 2022.
“It was very bad not to get a fight, I’m not going to lie. I even asked why I was left out. They spoke about lack of funds. I was then offered a six rounds fight two weeks before the tournament, which was held here in Gqeberha. I agreed to fight. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get an opponent for me because it was short notice,” Bell said.
Some good news for Bell, though, is that she’s going to return to action in a fight against former SA female lightweight champion Kholosa Ndobayini next month. And after that, Bell will defend her national title against number one contender Bukiwe Nonina, a former SA female bantamweight titlist.
“I’m going to fight against Kholosa Ndobayini in Bloemfontein on the 17th of February. Then after that fight, I will defend my title against Bukiwe Nonina in April,” the one-time World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-lightweight title contender revealed.
Witbooi’s comment is going to be added to the story as soon as he is avalaible.
