By Monwabisi Jimlongo
After three failed attempts by Eastern Cape boxers to dethrone South African champion Jackson ‘M3’ Chauke, Sinethemba Kotana wants to succeed where his home boys failed.
Kotana will attempt to become only the second boxer to inflict defeat on Chauke when he challenges the SA flyweight titlist in Johannesburg on Thursday, 29 September.
Chauke has only lost once in his career – that was when he challenged then SA flyweight title holder Lwandile Sityata in April 2013.
The 37-year-old Chauke has successfully defended his SA title three times – defeating Sihle Jelwana and Luyanda Ntwanambe as well as drawing with Phumelela Cafu.
Now Chauke from Tembisa in Ekurhuleni gets a chance to defend his crown for the fourth time when he trades leather with Kotana.
“Chauke is a good boxer and is experienced, too. What I know is that every dog has its day. I’m not afraid of him. I’m going to take the title away from him,” a confident Kotana said after a sparring session with world title hopeful Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Kotana has done well in his last three fights, stopping Jelwana and Lebogang Pilane while going the distance with Mogale Molefe.
And his trainer Bernie Pailman said: about the Chauke fight: “Kotana is pushing very hard. He has not given me any problems. I don’t want to say anything more because Chauke is already angry. I don’t want to make him angrier than he is at the moment. I want to make sure that he only gets angry when he is inside the ring.”
