After leading Nozipho Bell to a win over Abongile Lubambo at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton, Gqeberha, on Saturday, boxing trainer Lonwabo Witbooi has revealed that his mission is to make sure that the South African female junior-lightweight champion returns to world ratings.

Fighting in front of her Gqeberha fans, Bell dominated and then stopped Lubambo in the eighth round to mark her ring return in more than two years of inactivity. 

“Now that she has won her fight, my mission and immediate plan are to have her being re-instated into world ratings. She lost her world ratings because of inactivity,” Witbooi said. 

Before lacing her gloves against Lubambo, Walmer-born Bell had not fought since she defeated Mashudu Ramakwelo in an SA title defence in Kariega in December 2022. 

A fight against former World Boxing Federation (WBF) female bantamweight champion Bukiwe ‘Anaconda’ Nonina was mooted last year, but never materialised. And Witbooi still strongly believes that that fight is what the boxing fraternity needs.

“While we are waiting for international opportunities, I think a Bell-Nonina fight should happen regardless of what happens in Saturday’s fight between Nonina and Bernice Ferreira,” Witbooi remarked.

“I still believe that a fight between Bell and Nonina would be good for boxing. Two female fighters would be great for women’s boxing in South Africa. Apart from Nonina, Bell has no one else to fight in South Africa.” – Monwabisi Jimlongo 

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