After they stripped him his South African junior-bantamweight title following his failure to make the required weight and then dropped in the ratings even though he’s yet to lose or draw, Lwando Mgabi returns to action next month.
The Duncan Village-born former national champion clashes with Ayanda Gangqa from Gqeberha at the Portuguese Hall in Turffontein, Johannesburg, on Sunday, 17 August.
“We are going to fight in Johannesburg against Ayanda Gangqa from Gqeberha next month,” one of Mgabi’s trainers Siyabonga Mafika confirmed.
This is going to be the second time Mgabi, who is based in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, fights against Gangqa. He stopped Gangqa in the fifth round when they fought at the Mossel Bay Arena, Mossel Bay, in July 2023.
Meanwhile, Mgabi was stripped of his title after he overweighed before his fifth round stoppage victory over Sechaba Zuma in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, last month.
And despite winning the fight, Mgabi, who has eight victories with three knockouts, was dropped to number three in the ratings.
With a record of four wins (two knockouts), four losses and a draw, Gangqa’s last fight was a third round stoppage win over Asiphile Xhipholwana from Duncan Village in Kariega five months ago. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
