Manny Fernandes expects a tough fight when his boxer Charlton Malajika tests his fistic skills against RV Deniega from the Philippines at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday evening.
At stake is going to be the vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Youth bantamweight title to be fought over 12 rounds.
“It’s a very, very important fight for Charlton. It’s a youth title, it’s a step in the right direction. We all know that he’s talented,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes added: “We’ve got a tough fight against the Filipino guy. We are prepared, we are 100 ready for the fight. Charlton is gonna win this fight.”
The fact that Malajika’s older brother Ricardo, who’s the current IBO junior-bantamweight champion, assisted during their preparations for Deniega is something that Fernandes is happy and proud about.
“Iron sharpens irons, we worked as a team. We are a unit, we are one big family. When one of my boxers has a fight, we all get together and help him. It was the same during Charlton’s preparations,” Fernandes remarked.
With a professional record of seven wins, three knockouts and a loss, Malajika returns to the Kempton Park venue where he stopped Gcina Makhoba in his last fight four months ago.
On the other hand, this is going to be Deniega’s first fight since his win over Joe Bacalso last December. Deniega has won 11 times, stopping seven opponents and losing once. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
