By Monwabisi Jimlongo
East London boxing trainer Mzamo ‘Chief’ Njekanye has switched his focus to Martin Ward after leading Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni to a ninth round stoppage win over Malawian boxer Byson Gwayan at the Graceland Casino in Secunda, Mpumalanga, last Saturday.
Njekanye is firmly focused on guiding Azinga ‘Golden Boy’ Fuzile to victory when he meets Ward from the United Kingdom. This is so even though no date has been set for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-lightweight elimination bout.
“The focus has changed now. I’m giving Azinga my undivided attention. Planning the downfall of Martin Joseph Ward is my priority now,” Njekanye said.
“We don’t have a date yet, but that does not mean we should relax. We know we are going to fight against Martin, that’s all that matters at the moment. Martin is going to feel the heat.”
As part of their preparations, Njekanye and Fuzile have watched a few videos of Ward in action. And Njekanye has already figured out how to beat Ward.
“I’m not going to underestimate Martin. We have watched his videos. He is a complete boxer, forget about his knockout ratio. I know what we have to do. He is a good boxer and not a pushover. He wouldn’t be where he is now if he was a pushover,” Njekanye said.
Whoever wins this clash is going to challenge the winner of the fight between Tajikistan boxer Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov and Kenichi Ogawa from Japan.
Rakhimov and Ogawa are going to fight for the vacant IBF junior-lightweight belt. The title became vacant after American boxer Joseph Diaz lost it on the scales on the eve of his fight against Rakhimov in February.
