There’s confusion around whether former champion Nkosinathi ‘Mabhere’ Joyi will return to Tanzania for a fight against 33-year-old Tanzanian boxer Ibrahim Class Mgender or not.
According to the Tanzanians, the former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight titlist will trade leather with Class in an eight rounds junior-lightweight bout this coming Sunday.
However, Joyi’s handlers have insisted that he declined an offer to go fight against Class at a tournament scheduled for Desire Hall in Geita. This tournament is going to be promoted by Sophia Mwakagenda’s Lady In Red Promotions.
“They approached Mabhere for a fight in Tanzania, but he declined their offer,” a member Joyi’s team, who asked for his name not to be revealed, said.
Two months ago, the 41-year-old southpaw from Mdantsane was stopped in the third round by unbeaten Tanzanian boxer Abeid Kessy Kasongo who is better known as Abeid Zugo.
Before clashing against Zugo, Joyi hadn’t fought in three years as his last fight was a loss to Ayanda Ndulani during an IBO minimumweight title contest at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) in May 2021.
