Erstwhile world champion Vuyani ‘The Beast’ Bungu and Phila ‘Mapetla’ Mzamo will usher Aphiwe ‘Swagger’ Boyiya into battle when he faces Botswana national Kutlwano Ogaketse this coming Friday.
The two-time South African champion clashes with Ogaketse in a vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) All-Africa junior-welterweight title fight at the Grand Palm Hotel and Casino in Gaborone, Botswana.
“We are leaving on Wednesday. We will leave together with Bungu and Mapetla, who will be in the corner,” Boyiya’s manager Kholisile ‘KC’ Cengani confirmed on Monday.
Bungu, the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-featherweight and IBO featherweight champion, and Mapetla will man Boyiya’s corner in Lonwabo Witbooi’s absence.
Witbooi was due to man Braelyn-based Hlumelo Gingxana’s corner in a fight against Knysna-born Mbuyiseli Ndukwana this coming Saturday. However, the vacant IBO Africa lightweight title fight scheduled for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has since been moved to Saturday next week.
Meanwhile, Boyiya, a former SA featherweight and junior-lightweight titlist, will be fighting for the first time since he defeated Lindokuhle Dlamini at the Orient Theatre, KuGompo City, in November 2024. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
