By Monwabisi Jimlongo
With four successful title defences under his belt, reigning South African bantamweight champion Ronald ‘King’ Malindi is now aiming to become the outright owner of the belt as he’s chasing his fifth win.
Malindi is sweating buckets at the gym preparing for his next fight, which is an SA title defence against Lusizo Manzana at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in East London on Friday, 16 June.
“This fight against Manzana should have happened a long time ago. It’s going to be my fifth successful defence. I know that I’m going to win because there’s no way that Manzana can beat me,” Malindi remarked.
This fight is going to be on the undercard of International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight champion Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga’s title defence against Filipino boxer Regie Suganob.
Malindi, who won the SA title when he defeated Mbulelo Dyani in September 2018, defeated Rofhiwa Nemushungwa by a split decision at the Steve Tshwete Banquet Hall in Mhluzi, Middelburg, in July last year. Malindi remains unbeaten having won all his 19 fights and has, in the process, stopped nine of his opponents.
On the other hand, Manzana from Mthatha has won 10 times (four knockouts) and lost once. His only loss was a stoppage defeat by Nontshinga in April 2018.
