The arrival of unbeaten Filipino boxer Dave Apolinario in East London on Tuesday evening has brought more joy to former world champion Gideon ‘Hardcore’ Buthelezi.
The 36-year-old Buthelezi, who has gone down from junior-bantamweight to flyweight division, is happy because he’s going to fight for a world title again.
Buthelezi will be gunning for yet another world title when he faces 23-year-old Apolinario at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) on Friday evening.
The two southpaws are going to face off in a vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) flyweight title contest.
“I’m very happy that my opponent is here. His arrival means that I’m fighting on Friday. Making the weight is not easy, one has to work very hard and make some sacrifices. I have to win this fight,” Buthelezi said.
Buthelezi from Boipatong, Vanderbijlpark, in the Vaal, has been campaigning in the junior-bantamweight division for more than six years now.
The two-time IBO junior-bantamweight champion has also held the minimumweight and junior-flyweight titles in the same organisation. He was stripped of his IBO junior-bantamweight title because of inactivity last year.
“I love the atmosphere and the environment here in East London. The landscape is nice and it challenges me as it strengthens my legs when I’m jogging,” Buthelezi said.
