Boxing trainer Sebastiaan Rothmann fully understands what awaits his boxer Jabulani Makhense as they depart for Lithuania.
Makhense leaves South Africa for Lithuania on Sunday ahead next Saturday’s fight against top Lithuanian boxer Eimantas Stanionis at the Zalgiris Arena, Kaunas.
“We are leaving on Sunday, the 21st and the fight is on the 27th. We are fighting against a very physical, strong, come forward fighter. We have a big task at hand. Everybody backs our opponent for the future,” Rothmann remarked.
Rothmann, an erstwhile International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and World Boxing Union (WBU) cruiserweight champion, revealed that Makhense sparred with former South African junior-welterweight titlist Ntethelelo Nkosi while preparing for Stanionis.
“Jabulani’s preparations have gone smoothly. We’ve been lucky to spar at different gyms in and around Johannesburg. We sparred with Nkosi, who has a similar style to that of Stanionis,” Rothmann said.
Rothmann concluded: “Jabulani is on weight, which is very good for him. I don’t really have to do weight cut since Lithuania is now in autumn. It should be cold there.”
Makhense will be looking at improving his record when he fights against Stanionis. He has won 16 fights with eight of those victories being knockouts and two defeats.
Already, the 32-year-old Makhense has fought twice this year, defeating Charles Misanto and Maiala Antonio.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Stanionis will be fighting for the first time in Lithuania since he made his professional debut in April 2017.
And this is going to be his second fight this year having lost to Jaron Ennis during an International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title fight at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, United States of America (USA) five months ago.
The 2015 European Championships gold medallist is rated number eight by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and is second in the World Boxing Association (WBA) ratings.
Kaunas-born Stanionis has a professional record of 15 wins with nine stoppages and a single defeat. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
