A South African title challenge, which had to go to arbitration before it was given the go ahead, is finally set for KuGompo City as Bongani Fule challenges featherweight champion Lindelani Sibisi at the Jan Smuts Stadium on Saturday, 23 May.
Initially, Fule was due to have challenged Sibisi in Estcourt, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, last month, but the bout didn’t take place as Sibisi’s preparations were said to have been hampered by Xaba Promotions boss Ayanda Matiti’s challenge to the fight. Matiti wanted Sibisi to defend against current SA junior-featherweight champion Siyabulela Hem.
Now Sibisi is returning to KuGompo City, a place where he broke local boxing followers’ hearts after he dethroned former SA featherweight champion Zolisa Batyi via a 10th round stoppage in May last year.
“We have signed the contract for the Sibisi fight. I’m confident that Fule is going to be crowned the new champion on the 23rd of May, which also happens to be the day my son Lubambo celebrates his ninth birthday,” Fule’s manager Andile Mshumpela remarked.
This fight came as a result of an arbitration which ruled that Sibisi must defend against Fule instead of Hem whom the Boxing South Africa (BSA) sanctioning committee had approved to face the Dundee-born champion.
Meanwhile, this is the same tournament where erstwhile SA junior-flyweight champion Nhlanhla Tyirha will face off against Nhlakanipho Kunene in a vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) minimumweight title contest.
Former SA and IBO lightweight titlist Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni will have his last professional fight when he fights against Sanele Msimang at the same tournament.
And Siseko Teyisi will clash with Filipino opponent Neel Jacamos in a vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth junior-flyweight title fight. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
