By Monwabisi Jimlongo
It’s easy to understand why Gqeberha boxer and current South African female cruiserweight champion Razell Mohamed is a happy athlete.
The 34-year-old Mohamed is excited as she has started counting days before she challenges for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title. Mohamed is scheduled to challenge reigning IBF female heavyweight champion Te Arani Moarana ‘Lani’ Daniels in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, 26 August.
“I feel ready. We’re preparing hard, definitely. Thankfully, I’m on holiday now from my teaching job. It’s just training, that’s where my mind is now,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed, who works as a school teacher in Kariega in the Eastern Cape, has always dreamt about fighting for a world title even though she admitted that this fight came sooner than expected.
“To be honest, it came so soon. I wasn’t expecting the call to go challenge her because she just won the title. Anyway, my coach and I have been analysing some of her fights. I admit that we know a little bit about her,” Mohamed remarked.
Popularly known by the moniker ‘The Smiling Assassin’, the 34-year-old Daniels won the world title after she overcame her compatriot Alrie Meleisea at the Eventfinda Stadium in North Shore, New Zealand, in May.
Mohamed, who has won three fights and drawn twice, will become the first female boxer from South Africa to fight for a world heavyweight crown.
Meanwhile, Daniels is a former New Zealand light-heavyweight and Australasian heavyweight champion, who has eight victories, two defeats and two draws.
