World champion Thulani ‘Evolution’ Mbenge will make a ring return with a clash against Namibian foe Emmanuel Mungandjela in Pretoria in less than two months’ time.
Mbenge and the 36-year-old Mungandjela will test each other’s fistic skills at the SunBet Arena in Time Square, on Thursday, 1 May. But Mbenge’s International Boxing Organisation (IBO) welterweight title is not going to be on the line when he clashes against Mungandjela.
This is going to be Mbenge’s first fight since winning the IBO belt after a unanimous decision victory over Michael McKinson at the Copper Box Arena in Middlesex, United Kingdom, in October last year.
“We have been trying to have him defend his IBO title. We had three guys who pulled out. The IBO has since given us an extension and now we are going for an international 10 rounds bout against Mungandjela,” Mbenge’s trainer Sean Smith explained.
Mungandjela, who is a two-time Namibian welterweight champion, is going to fight outside Namibia for the second time in his boxing career. His first fight outside Namibia was a loss to Pierce O’Leary in a World Boxing Council (WBC) International junior-welterweight title in London in November 2022.
Ongwediva-born Mungandjela has never been stopped before having registered 20 wins with nine knockouts, four losses and a draw. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
