Described as a boxer who’s got style, attitude and knows how to fight, Simamkele Tutsheni will open Golden Gloves’ year in far away Poland as she faces Pole Laura Monika Grzyb on Sunday, 15 March.
Tutsheni will be attempting to upstage the Polish boxer when she tries to wrestle the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) female junior-featherweight title away from her during their clash at Miasto Jastrzębie-Zdrój.
“I’ve always wanted to fight for the world title. I know that my opponent is going to have the home crowd behind her, that doesn’t frighten me. I believe I have a very good chance of winning the fight. Actually, I’m going to Poland to take the title,” a confident Tutsheni said.
Tutsheni, who is the current IBO All-Africa female junior-featherweight champion, is yet to lose or draw as she has eight wins with three knockouts. She won the IBO All-Africa title after she outpointed Caleigh Swart at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, last August.
And according to Golden Gloves managing director Rodney Berman, Tutsheni has had a remarkable rise, maintaining her unbeaten record after her victory over Swart.
“I’ve seen a lot of female fighters and I’m satisfied she is the one fighter that has the potential to go all the way to the very top,” Berman said.
Meanwhile, following her transition from mixed martial arts to boxing, Grzyb, who is originally from Jastrzębie-Zdrój, won more than 150 amateur fights.
The 30-year-old Grzyb, a winner of the 2023 Best Polish Professional Female Boxer, has won all her 11 professional bouts with three of those wins coming from stoppages. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
