It’s yet another opportunity for Roarke Knapp as he comes up against Frenchman Bakary Samake at La Paris Défence Arena in France on Friday.
After missing out on winning the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-middleweight title in June last year as he suffered a third round stoppage loss to Mexican boxer Jorge Garcia Perez, Knapp now faces Samake in a World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver junior-middleweight title contest.
The 26-year-old Knapp made amends for losing to Perez when he stopped Adones Cabalquinho from the Philippines in the third round at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park last December.
“We are not on holiday here. We are here to work. We are ready and waiting for the day of the fight,” Knapp’s trainer Vusi Mtolo said.
“We arrived here on Tuesday last week and have acclimatised. We have already met our opponent. He looked and undermined us. It’s gonna be war when we get into that ring.”
Mtolo added: “We were shocked to discover that our fight is the only bout on the night, thereafter they are going to have a music festival. We have to represent South Africa well.”
Knapp will go to the fight with a record of 17 victories with 12 knockouts, two defeats and a draw. On the other hand, the 21year-old Samake has been impressive, winning all his 17 fights with nine of those wins coming from stoppages. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
