A fight which many boxing followers thought it was surely going to take place is not happening as knockout specialist Mxolisi ‘Nation’ Zuma and South African junior-featherweight champion Siyabulela Hem are taking different routes.
Initially, it was thought that Hem would make a mandatory defence against Zuma, who is the number one contender. However, Hem is set to defend his title against Vusumuzi Ngcamu next month.
“We were supposed to challenge Hem, but we decided against that move because Zuma fought on the 12th of October. The Hem fight would have been too soon. I looked for the best option for Zuma and then let Hem choose another opponent,” Zuma’s promoter Hlulukwenza Dladla of Hlula Dladla Boxing Promotions said.
“I still believe that a fight between Zuma and Hem would have produced fireworks. I also think it wouldn’t go beyond the sixth round. It has been avoided for now.”
Zuma, who has won all his nine fights with stoppages, is now going to fight in Dladla’s next tournament set for December.
“There are boxers who went on to win world titles without having been SA champions. I can mention Sivenathi Nontshinga. I have a tournament either on the 15th or 16th of December and Zuma is gonna fight there,” Dladla remarked.
The 26-year-old Zuma from Empangeni stopped Kenyan boxer Albert Kimario Ongoro in the first round during a vacant African Boxing Union (ABU) junior-featherweight title fight at the Moth Hall in Dundee last month. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
