Phumelela ‘The Truth’ Cafu’s move to Colin ‘Nomakanjani’ Nathan’s NO DOUBT Management has started bearing fruits as the Duncan Village-born lad has landed a world title shot.
Cafu is going to challenge for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) junior-bantamweight title, which is currently held by Japanese boxer Kosei Tanaka. The fight is scheduled to take place at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, 14 October.
Nathan’s close working and business relationship with Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions resulted in Cafu getting an opportunity to fight for the WBO title.
“When Phumelela joined Boxing 5 and myself, he really wanted a world title shot. I said to him, give me a few months to make this happen. I contacted Mr Honda with the news that Cafu had joined me and the rest is now history. As the saying goes, it’s not what you know, but who you know,” Nathan said.
Cafu, one of the most talented pugilists in South Africa, is unbeaten having won 10 fights with eight of those wins coming from stoppages while drawing three times.
On the other hand, Tanaka has recorded 20 wins with 11 knockouts and a loss. Tanaka, a four-weight world champion, will be making the first defence of the title he won when he defeated Mexican Christian Bacasegue Rangel in February of this year.
“I’ve always dreamed of being a world champion and it doesn’t matter who I fight because I know I have the ability to beat anyone. I’m months away from my dream becoming reality. I have to thank ‘Nomakanjani’ and Boxing 5 for making this happen. I’m ready to shock the world and come home with the world title belt,” Cafu said.
Cafu is the second South African boxer to face off against Tanaka. The Japanese defeated Cafu’s Duncan Village homeboy Yanga Sigqibo on points in December 2022.
Boxing 5’s Larry Wainstein said: “Colin gives and creates opportunities for the fighters because of his large network and contacts, allowing them to fight on the big stages around the world with the leading promoters. We are very confident that Cafu can pull off an upset and become world champion.”
