After reaching the last eight of the WBC Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, Bekizizwe Maitse feels energised and his self belief has shot high, especially having former world champion Zolani ‘Last Born’ Tete in his corner.
Maitse advanced to the third round of the WBC Grand Prix after he overcame Tanzanian Juma Ramadhan Juma Kikande, who is popularly known as Juma Choki, at the Global Theatre Boulevard Riyadh City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
With a record of eight wins with three knockouts and a loss, the African Boxing Union (ABU) SADC featherweight champion is now looking at going all the way to the final.
“I’m very happy that I won the fight against a very tough opponent. It was a very difficult fight. The win has encouraged me to work even harder and fulfil my dream of reaching the final,” Maitse said.
On working with Tete, a former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-bantamweight and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion, Maitse said: “He is a hard worker. He pushed me and we trained three times a day when we were preparing for the fight. He knows what he does, he’s been there before us. I will continue working with coach Zolani even in the next round.”
Maitse, the son of former South African junior-featherweight titlist Bongani Mahlangu, is highly rated and being in seventh place in the SA featherweight ratings bears testimony to that. – Monwabisi Jimlongo