It’s easy to figure out why former South African junior-featherweight champion Ayabonga ‘Jay Jay’ Sonjica is happy as he’s preparing for his fight against Thato Bonokoane.
Sonjica has not seen any action as he has been inactive for more than two years with his last fight being a sixth round stoppage loss to erstwhile SA junior-featherweight titlist Bongani ‘Wonderboy’ Mahlangu in July 2022.
Now Sonjica has a date with former World Boxing Federation (WBF) junior-featherweight champion Bonokoane in a six rounds bout at the Galleria Events Venue, Sandton, on Saturday, 15 March.
“I don’t want to lie, I’m very happy. My return to the ring is long overdue. It doesn’t matter how many rounds my bout is as long as I get into the ring,” Sonjica said.
Sonjica’s fight against Bonokoane is going to form part of the maiden tournament presented by new promotional outfit Aquila Boxing Promotions (ABP). Sonjica will come up against Bonokoane, who desperately needs a win after losing his last three fights against Tanzanian Kalolo Amiri, Namibians Mateus Heita and Filipus Nghitumbwa.
Meanwhile, owing to his inactivity, the 33-year-old Sonjica from Duncan Village in East London dropped out of the Boxing South Africa (BSA) ratings last year.
“My mind is not on the ratings, I’m not focusing on that at all. I just want to get into the ring and fight,” Sonjica remarked. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
