Having hosted many football games from the FIFA World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations, South African Premiership, COSAFA as well as rugby matches, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will, for the first time, host a boxing tournament next month.
Promoter Mbali Zantsi’s Zantsi Showtime Productions will on Saturday, 30 May, host a boxing tournament at the venue, which was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. Headlining the tournament will be a vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) All-Africa lightweight title fight between Hlumelo Gingxana from Braelyn in KuGompo City and Knysna-born Mbuyiseli Ndukwana.
“Initially, the tournament was going to be held on the 25th of this month. We have since postponed it to the 30th of May,” Zantsi revealed on Friday.
Former South African female junior-lightweight champion Nozipho Bell from Walmer in Gqeberha will be fighting in the tournament against Zimbabwean Chiedza Homakoma. Bell and Homakoma will face off in a vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) female junior-welterweight title contest.
Meanwhile, Gqeberha boxer Razell Mohamed will be fighting for the first time since August 2023 when she defends her SA female junior-heavyweight title against Mthatha-born boxer Rita Mrwebi. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
