It’s a fight, which pits two unbeaten boxers against each other as history-chasing Olwethu Mkhathala from Stellenbosch is going to challenge reigning South African female mini-flyweight champion, Tyla Promnick, next month.
The two boxers are due to test each other’s fistic skills at a Golden Gloves Foundation’s Shaya Thursday tournament set for the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Thursday, 26 November.
Rated number one in South Africa, Mkhathala, who is originally from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, made her professional debut in April last year and has won all her four fights with one of those wins being a knockout.
“The fight means a lot to us as we are on the verge of making history in our community. We want Olwethu to become the first boxer from our community to win the national title,” Mkhathala’s trainer, Xolisani Thembani, said.
“This is bigger than boxing. We are determined to make the most of this opportunity. It’s about showing the young people in our community that with hard work, discipline and the right support, they can achieve good things.”
Thembani, who was born in Duncan Village, KuGompo City, and Mkhathala know each other very well as they have been working together in Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands, for seven years now.
“Our journey as trainer and boxer started at the same time after I opened our boxing academy in 2019. We have been part of making history on several occasions. We achieved great things together as she had an impressive amateur career, winning two South African gold medals. In 2025, we took a decision to turn professional,” Thembani remarked.
Managed by KuGompo City-based Lonwabo Witbooi, Mkhathala has not fought since she outpointed Botswana national, Jennifer Sechi, in Welkom last December.
Meanwhile, Promnick, who has a professional record of six wins with three knockouts, will be making the first defence of the title she won after she dethroned Thobela Nyanda via a majority decision in May.
Already, the Alan Toweel-trained Promnick has fought twice this year, winning against Yonelisa Poni in February and Nyanda. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
