A desire to move up the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) ratings will be the main driving force when Mpumelelo Tshabalala clashes against yet another Filipino boxer next month.
Tshabalala defeated Jesse Espinas from the Philippines in a WBO Intercontinental junior-flyweight title scrap at the Orlando Communal Hall, Soweto, in August last year.
And now Tshabalala will fight against highly-rated Filipino pugilist Jake Amparo on Saturday, 24 February. Tshabalala from Katlehong in Ekurhuleni will be defending his WBO Intercontinental junior-flyweight belt.
“I will be defending my WBO Intercontinental title against Jake Amparo on the 24th of February. But I’m not sure as to where exactly the fight is going to be held,” Tshabalala said.
Meanwhile, Amparo from Bohol in the Philippines will go to the Tshabalala fight following a points loss to his compatriot and former International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran last month.
This fight between the 26-year-old Amparo and Taduran, 27, was an IBF minimumweight elimination bout and was held in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
Amparo, who is rated fourth by the World Boxing Council (WBC), 10th in the World Boxing Association (WBA) ratings, fifth by the IBF and is in sixth place in the WBO ratings in the minimumweight division, defeated Mthokozisi Ngxaka from Mthatha on points at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) in October 2022.
