By Monwabisi Jimlongo
For around 30 minutes or so, Bukiwe ‘Anaconda’ Nonina will refuse to be bullied by Nozipho Bell when she attempts to dethrone the reigning South African female junior-lightweight champion in what could become the country’s biggest fight ever involving women boxers.
Nonina, a former SA and World Boxing Federation (WBF) female bantamweight titlist, will challenge Gqeberha-born Bell in an all-Eastern Cape shootout in Johannesburg in two months’ time, if things return to normal in South African boxing.
Currently, boxing activities have come to a standstill owing to the court challenge brought by the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association (NPBPA) against Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa following his decision to appoint and announce a new board for Boxing South Africa (BSA).
“I’m not too sure about what’s happening at Boxing South Africa. However, I can reveal that I have been informed that our fight is going to take place in April. We all know that there’s no friendship when it comes to business. It’s gonna be business when we are fighting,” Nonina remarked.
“There are no problems between us. I have been rated number one for quite some time now. But I was always overlooked for title challenges. Other boxers would come from other divisions and then fight for the SA junior-lightweight title. Obviously, both of us are top boxers. That’s why this is going to be a big fight.”
Bell, who is now trained by Lonki Witbooi in East London, will be fighting for the first time since she stopped Mashudu Ramakwelo in the second round at the Babs Madlakane Hall in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, in December 2022.
