Ukwehlela kudidi olungezantsi asiyongxaki kuRicardo ‘Magic Man’ Malajika ingakumbi njengokuba ezakucela umngeni kwindoda ekukudala ejonge kuyo neyinjinga yehlabathi uJackson ‘M3’ Chauke ngaphambi kokuphela konyanga-ntathu wokuqala ka-2025.
UMalajika, oyintshatsheli ye-International Boxing Organisation (IBO) kudidi lwejunior-bantamweight, uzakucela umngeni kuChauke, oyinjinga ye-IBO kudidi lwempukane, e-Emperor’s Palace, eKempton Park, Ekurhuleni ngoMgqibelo umhla wesibhozo kuMatshi.
Emva kokukhusela intshinga yakhe ngempumelelo izihlandlo ezimbini kususela mhla wayiphumelela kumlo noKevin Luis Munoz wase-Argentina nyakenye, ngoku uMalajika ufuna ukuhlutha isithsaba sikaChauke, mhlawumbi amyekise nokulwa.
UMalajika waqala ngokukhusela intshinga yakhe ngempumelelo kumlo noMarcel Braithwaite waseBrithane ngo-Epreli, waze emva koko wanqumamisa inzalelwane yaseDuncan Village uYanga Sigqibo kumjikelo weshumi elinanye kwiinyanga ezine ezilandelayo.
“Ukulwa nomntu ekukudala ndijonge kuye kukuzalisekiswa kwephupha lam. Lo ngumlo ekufanele ndiwuphumelele njengokuba uChauke eyimbethi-manqindi ephambili. Ukulwa nomntu onamava njengaye yeyona nto endiyijonge ngamehlo abomvu,” uMalajika uphefumle watsho.
UMalajika, oneminyaka engamashumi amabini anesithandathu noqeqeshwa nguManny Fernandes, wongeze ngelithi: “Andiyicingi nokuyicinga eyokokuba ndingoyiswa kukwenza ubunzima bodidi lwempukane kuba ubunzima bam busoloko bukumashumi amahlanu ananye eekhilogram.”
Kusenjalo, izakuba sisihlandlo sokuqala uChauke, ozinze eTembisa, ekhusela lentshinga awayiphumelela mhla wabetha inzalelwane yase-Afghanistan nesele ingummi waseBrithane uQuaise Khademi ngoJanyuwari kulonyaka. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
