Mpumelelo Tshabalala will receive a major boost when one of his trainers Peter Malinga arrives in Mexico on Friday ahead of his very important fight against Mexican boxer Sergio Mendoza Cordova.
Tshabalala clashes with Cordova in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight elimination bout in Hermosillo, Sonora, on Saturday (Sunday morning, South African time).
Team Tshabalala has been unlucky as they were turned away at the OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday evening due to an oversight regarding the lack of a transit visa for their flight to Mexico via the United Kingdom.
This resulted in Tshabalala and his co-manager Vusi Malinga departing for Mexico on Monday evening while one of his trainers Peter Malinga flew out of South Africa on Thursday evening, leaving Thami Malinga behind.
With the day of reckoning fast approaching, Tshabalala came face-to-face with his opponent for the first time at a media workout held at the Caballero’s Boxing Gym in Hermosillo, Sonora, on Wednesday.
“I’m very happy to be fighting in Mexico and this is my biggest opportunity to fight at this level of boxing. I’m truly excited that the fight has finally arrived,” Tshabalala said.
“This has been a long wait, a long journey and a moment I have been preparing for with patience and dedication. Now the time has come and I’m ready to show what I can do.”
This is going to be the former South African junior-flyweight champion’s first fight since he defeated Argentine boxer Junior Leandro Zarate in an International Boxing Organisation (IBO) title contest in September last year.
Vusi Malinga said: “Mpumelelo is fully prepared and in top condition. The hard work has been done, the fitness and strategy are in place. We are ready to go the full distance if needed and we are confident in our game plan. We believe in victory. Mexico will remember his performance.”
