South African flyweight champion Jackson ‘M3’ Chauke’s title defence against Sinethemba Kotana is set for Thursday, 29 September.
The date was confirmed by both Chauke’s trainer Damien Durandt and Kotana’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene.
Kotana, who joined Bernie Pailman’s stable in Johannesburg recently, will become the fourth Eastern Cape boxer to try to wrestle the SA title away from Chauke.
Tembisa-based Chauke is yet to lose against Eastern Cape boxers since stopping Thabang Ramagole to win the SA title in 2019. He has successfully defended his title against Komani-born Sihle Jelwana and Luyanda Ntwanambe from Duncan Village. He then drew with Phumelela Cafu in March.
Chauke, who turned 37 in May, will, however, have a warm-up fight next month before meeting Kotana.
“Jackson is fighting at the end of July here in Johannesburg. We haven’t concluded who his opponent will be. We’ve got a few options. He will only defend his SA title against Kotana in September,” Durandt said.
Tengimfene said: “Kotana was supposed to fight Chauke in July. We said he won’t be ready because he had an injury and secondly, he was writing exams. We provided proof to Boxing South Africa that Kotana picked up an injury in his last fight against Jelwana in March.
“We then said that we would be ready on the 27th of August or 29th of September. Chauke wanted the fight to be held in July. We said Kotana would be ready in 90 days when we put in the challenge form to BSA. We don’t have a problem with Chauke fighting next month. We will fight him in September.”
Kotana won his last three fights defeating Jelwana, Lebogang Pilane and Mogale Molefe.
