Liverpudlian Marcel Braithwaite is planning to upset South African boxing followers by defeating world champion Ricardo Malajika on Friday evening.
The 29-year-old Braithwaite challenges International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight champion Malajika at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park.
“I know he is a world champion and he’s also a good boxer. I’m not afraid of him, I’m a Scouser. We’ve got a plan for him,” Braithwaite said.
Braithwaite, who has been in South Africa since last week, added: “It’s been great being here. I have met a lot of nice people as well.”
The 25-year-old Malajika will attempt to make a first successful defence of the title he annexed after he outpointed Argentine boxer Kevin Luis Munoz in September last year.
Meanwhile, the fight between SA heavyweight champion Keaton Gomes and Shaun Potgieter gives each of the two boxers an opportunity to see how far their careers have progressed since they first met.
Gomes stopped Potgieter in the first round when they clashed in a six rounds bout in March 2022. And that loss remains the only blot in Potgieter’s CV.
