Enjoying a purple patch after leading three of his boxers to championship-winning fights since the beginning of the year, Lonwabo Witbooi is aiming to add more titles to his stable.
And fresh from guiding Sharadene Fortuin to World Boxing Council (WBC) International female bantamweight glory where the Seymour-born champion defeated Zambian Alice Mbewe at the Jan Smuts Stadium in KuGompo City just over a week ago, Witbooi will be in Hlumelo Gingxana’s corner when he faces Mbuyiseli Ndukwana in a vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Africa lightweight title contest at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha this coming Saturday.
Gingxana from Braelyn in KuGompo City is the current Eastern Cape lightweight champion having won the title after he stopped Aphiwe Magobiyane in Komani almost four months ago. His younger brother Oyisa won the provincial junior-bantamweight title after a fourth round stoppage victory over Athi Klaas in February this year.
“We are excited at the possibility of adding another title. We know it’s not going to be easy for us to achieve such, but nonetheless it’s been a very good year. Everybody at the gym is motivated, thanks to the wins we had early in the year,” Witbooi said.
“Oyisa and Hlumelo, add to that Sharadene’s win, everybody is in high spirits. The mood at the gym is right and we take every fight seriously as we always do. We are very pleased and also the fact that we are getting these chances of fighting for these titles shows that we are doing something right at the stable. It just shows that promoters believe in us so much that they are willing to give us these opportunities because they know we are gonna make the most of them.”
On Gingxana fighting against Ndukwana, Witbooi said: “With Hlumelo, he’s really having a good year. He’s fighting Ndukwana, who is number one. I know should we beat Ndukwana, he’s moving up the rankings. After this win, we will consider challenging for the South African title. However, we are not in a rush. We will weigh our options and gauge his performance and see if we should go for the South African title later this year.”
This is the second time that the two boxers clash as Gingxana emerged victorious after their first fight held at the International Convention Centre, KuGompo City, in October 2022.
Ndukwana, a Western Cape lightweight champion, has not fought since his fourth round technical knockout victory over Luthando Mkwini at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton, Gqeberha, in March last year.
Meanwhile, Witbooi also has Bell, who’s going to face off against Zimbabwean Chiedza Homakoma in a vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental female junior-welterweight title contest on Saturday.
“In the same tournament, we are going for two titles. There’s also Nozipho Bell fighting for the WBF Intercontinental title. After a little fall out, we have mended our ways and got back together. She’s now back in a title fight against Chiedza Homakoma,” Witbooi said.
“We are very positive and also she has a good ranking in the WBO. Should we win this fight, we will definitely move up the rankings. It’s going to be a good year for us, winning two titles in the same tournament.” – Monwabisi Jimlongo
