Despite being on a roll, winning two Eastern Cape titles this month and slowly fulfilling his mission to churn out more champions, KuGompo City boxing trainer Lonwabo Witbooi is in no rush to unleash his boxers and challenge for South African titles.
Currently, SA female bantamweight title holder Sharadene Fortuin remains the only boxer with a national title at Witbooi’s stable. Fortuin is one of the six boxers trained by Witbooi at his KuGompo City gym while another two pf his charges are based in Cape Town.
As of now, Witbooi’s stable boasts five champions – one SA and four provincial titlists.
“My immediate move, with the assistance of Ground Up Sports Promotions, is to keep Sharadene active and relaunch her into the international scene and get her a credible world title shot by the end of the year,” Witbooi said.
Seymour-born Fortuin, who is the first ever SA champion from the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, has held the national title since she dethroned Melissa Miller in August 2021. Apart from Fortuin, Witbooi trains Athenkosi Thongwana, Aphiwe Boyiya as well as the Gingxana brothers Hlumelo and Oyisa, who are all Eastern Cape champions.
Hlumelo and Oyisa from Braelyn, KuGompo City, won the Eastern Cape lightweight and junior-bantamweight titles respectively this month.
“I want to rebuild Thongwana with an Eastern Cape title defence, move him up the ratings and then challenge for the SA title again or take another international route altogether,” Witbooi quipped.
Witbooi added: “I will keep the Gingxana brothers with their Eastern Cape title defences. And SA title challenges are not even a consideration right now.”
Meanwhile, Witbooi will be travelling to Botswana where he will usher Boyiya to battle when he fights against Kutlwano Ogaketse in a vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) All-Africa junior-welterweight title strap at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) on Friday, 1 May. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
