When Landile ‘Man Down’ Ngxeke lost to Mexican boxer, Jose Salas Reyes in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight title fight last December, he thought it would take a long time before he fights for a world crown yet again.
However, an opportunity to fight for the world title again has availed itself as Ngxeke is scheduled to face Charlton Malajika in a vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) bantamweight title contest at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 21 November.
“Im going to win the title. I can even win it by a stoppage. I’m not saying this because I underestimate Malajika. I’m saying I’m gonna win because I know his strengths and weaknesses. And during the fight, people are going to see who’s in a higher level between the two of us,” Ngxeke, a former South African junior-bantamweight titlist, said.
The Sada-born Ngxeke, who is the reigning South African bantamweight champion, is yet to lose to an SA opponent as he picked up his only two defeats against Filipino and Mexican boxers. And in his last fight, Ngxeke stopped Namibian boxer, Jonas Matheus, in the eighth round in May.
Meanwhile, Malajika comes off a credible draw with World Boxing Council (WBC) International bantamweight champion, David Mwale, in Zambia just less than two months ago.
Malajika gave a very good account of himself during the fight in so much that his handlers still believe he did enough to win the bout. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
