A win in her last fight, which came after more than two years of inactivity has taken Nozipho Bell back into the International Boxing Federation (IBF) female ratings.
Bell, the reigning South African female junior-lightweight champion, is rated at number five in the latest IBF ratings. The Walmer-born champion stopped Abongile Lubambo from Duncan Village in the eighth round at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton, Gqeberha, early last month.
Bell is now expected to defend her national title against Bernice Ferreira, who registered a points win over former World Boxing Federation (WBF) and SA female bantanmweight champion Bukiwe Nonina in Sandton last month.
Trained by Lonwabo Witbooi in East London, Bell has not defended her crown since her win over Mashudu Ramakwelo at the Babs Madlakane Hall in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, in December 2022.
“Bell is back in the IBF ratings as per our promise. At the moment, we are not sure as to when she will defend her SA title,” Witbooi said.
A former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) female junior-lightweight title contender, Bell was one of the boxers who received their belts from Boxing South Africa (BSA) at a function, which was organised by Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie, in Pretoria last month.
Bell, a former IBF Intercontinental junior-lightweight title titlist, is on a six-fight winning streak having had her last loss in July 2019. That was when she challenged for the IBO female junior-lightweight title in a duel against British boxer Terri Harper in Rotherham, United Kingdom (UK).
That was Bell’s second loss in a world title fight in less than a year as she also lost to Pole Ewa Brodnicka when she was vying for the WBO female junior-lightweight crown in Lubin, Poland. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
