That Argentine boxer Junior Leandre Zarate is an experienced campaigner compared to South African junior-flyweight champion Mpumelelo Tshabalala is not a problem.
This is what one of Tshabalala’s trainers Patrick Malinga said as his charge is preparing for a vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-flyweight title fight against the Argentine at Vodaworld in Midrand on Saturday, 31 August.
“We don’t know much about our opponent. But that doesn’t mean we are afraid of him. We know that he is a former Olympian and is rated highly. We are working very hard to make sure that we are ready to win on the day of the fight,” Malinga said.
Tshabalala, who is based in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, hasn’t fought since he beat Filipino boxer Jesse Espinosa in Orlando East, Soweto, in August last year.
On the other hand, Zarate defeated Colombian Gabriel Mendoza in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) Latino and World Boxing Council (WBC) Latino junior-flyweight title fight in February this year.
The 34-year-old Zarate is a former Argentine junior-flyweight and flyweight champion, who has won his last 10 fights. His last loss was a defeat Argentine compatriot Leandro Jose Blanc in September 2021.
Meanwhile, Tshabalala has won 10 times with five knockouts and a loss while Zarate has a professional record of 24 victories, nine stoppages and four defeats. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
