Almost a week after winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) International female bantamweight title, Sharadene Fortuin is still basking in the glory of having the belt wrapped around her waist.
Fortuin from Seymour in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Eastern Cape, defeated Zambian boxer Alice Mbewe to become the first female boxer in South Africa to win the WBC International title. Their fight was held at the Jan Smuts Stadium in KuGompo City last Saturday.
“The fight meant a lot to me and my future. It will open doors for me. Alice is a good boxer. She knows what to do inside the ring. She wanted to trap me, but my experience came in handy. I controlled the fight and I did everything I wanted to do,” Fortuin remarked.
Fortuin, the reigning South African female bantamweight champion, is a history maker as she was the first women boxer in South Africa to rule in the International Boxing Organisation (IBO).
This was after she defeated Maria Magdalena Rivera to win the IBO bantamweight female championship at the Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre in August 2015. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
