Ncedo Cecane has been afforded the honour of making sure that Johannesburg-based Zimbabwean boxer, Ndabezinhle Phiri, returns to South Africa with the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) flyweight title from England next month.
Cecane will man Phiri’s corner in the absence of the boxer’s trainer, Manny Fernandes, who is going to remain in South Africa to lead Charlton ‘Baby Pain’ Malajika during an IBO bantamweight title fight against Landile ‘Man Down’ Ngxeke at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 21 November.
The 25-year-old Phiri from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe will be fighting against Liverpudlian Brandon Lee Daord on the same night as Malajika’s clash with Ngxeke.
“Ncedo Cecane is going to be in Phiri’s corner. He’s one of the best trainers, that’s for sure. He will carry out coach Manny’s game plan. I’ll be there to assist with the stool and spit bucket,” Phiri’s promoter, Brad Norman from Warrior Ascent Promotions, said.
The Eastern Cape-born Cecane, who is a former South African flyweight champion, is the chief trainer at the WBC gym in downtown Johannesburg.
“Brad has one of the trainers at the WBC gym. He’s gonna come to our gym a week before the fight. We are gonna give him instructions and the game plan to advise Phiri because there’s a couple of points that he needs in the fight,” Fernandes said.
Meanwhile, Phiri from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe was due to have fought against Daord earlier last month, but the fight had to be rescheduled after the Liverpool resident picked up an injury while preparing for their clash.
Phiri is rated number one in the IBO and eighth in the WBC ratings while the 29-year-old Daord, the current WBC International flyweight titlist, is 15th in the World Boxing Organisation (WBO).
The unbeaten Phiri has won all his 11 fights with five of those victories coming from knockouts. Daord, on the other hand, has registered 12 wins with three stoppages. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
