As next month’s fight against top-rated Chinese boxer and knockout specialist, Dianxing Zhu, is not happening anymore, Siyakholwa Kuse will now make the first defence of his World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight title at home.
Mdantsane-born Kuse was due to travel to China for a fight against Zhu, which was scheduled for Saturday, 28 November. However, things have changed as his handlers have decided to let him make his first title defence in South Africa.
Initially, the 27-year-old former South African and WBC Silver strawweight champion was scheduled to defend his WBC title against Japanese boxer, Ryusei Matsumoto, in Japan last month. The fight was called off as it was said that Kuse would, instead, defend against Zhu.
“Unfortunately, that fight is not happening anymore. The main reason is that Golden Gloves has decided to put Siya on in South Africa. It’s fitting for him to make his first defence in South Africa,” Kuse’s manager, Brian Mitchell, revealed.
The former World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-lightweight champion added: “He will be fighting at the Emperors Palace, heading a bill at the end of February. We are still working on the opponent.”
Trained by accomplished trainer, Manny Fernandes in Edenvale, Ekurhuleni, Kuse made history when he became the first boxer from the Eastern Cape to rule in the WBC after he outpointed former champion, Melvin Jerusalem, from the Philippines at the Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, in May. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
