Having relinquished the South African junior-welterweight title last year to pursue glory in the WBC Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ntethelelo Nkosi will now get an opportunity to reclaim the crown.
Nkosi is scheduled to face off against Sibusiso Zingange in a vacant SA junior-welterweight title contest at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 16 May. Initially, Zingange was due to have faced KuGompo City boxer Aphiwe Boyiya for the national title, but consistent postponements put paid to that fight.
And Boyiya has since signed to clash against Botswana boxer Kutlwano Ogaketse in an International Boxing Organisation (IBO) All-Africa junior-lightweight title fight at the Grand Palm Hotel in Gaborone on Friday next week.
A semi-finalist at the WBC Grand Prix, Mtubatuba-born Nkosi said: “This fight gives me an opportunity to reclaim my title. I admit that Zingange is a great opponent and I respect him. However, I don’t see him stopping me from becoming a two-time South African champion. I’m going to make sure that I’m crowned the new champion on the 16th of May.”
Nkosi will be ushered to war by Damien Durandt and his assistant Andson Kazembe while Zingange, a former SA junior-lightweight champion, will have the Malinga brothers Peter and Thami in his corner. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
