All-or-nothing bout for Nghonyama in risky ratings clash

“The problem was we could not get an opponent from boxers rated below 5, and Buthelezi was the only one available,” said Maboko, whose charge lost to Buthelezi some time back when Nghonyama was with trainer Alan Toweel Junior.

Maboko — trained as a professional boxer by Toweel before he quit in 2018 — was in the corner when Nghonyama lost against Sibisi for the then-vacant national title in March last year.

Nghonyama’s bout against Buthelezi will be the main contest of Angel Boxing Promotions’ maiden tourney.

Former IBF welterweight and IBO lightweight and welterweight champion Isaac “The Angel” Hlatshwayo will be introducing himself to the fight fraternity at home as a promoter.

Interestingly, Sibisi will face Miya on Sunday night in a three-championship Starline Boxing Promotion event at the town hall in Estcourt, where Sibisi won his belt against Nghonyama.

Promoters Zandile Malinga and Hlula Dladla will stage two separate tournaments in that hall, the first being Dladla’s Thulamlomo event, starting at 12 midday.

Dladla will provide opportunities for 16 newcomers in what will be their debuts in the professional ranks. Only four boxers in that bout have had one fight or more.

Then, from 6pm, Malinga’s Fight Night will take over. The main attraction will be the eagerly-awaited cash between reigning national middleweight king John Bopape and Phikelelani Khumalo.

The challenger is a former professional footballer from Mtwalume in KwaZulu-Natal, who swapped soccer boots for boxing gloves in 2020 after playing as a striker for Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge.

In a short space of time, he won the KZN junior middleweight belt, before adding the ABU Sadc middleweight belt to his collection in September last year.

Khumalo is rated No 3 for the belt Bopape, from Alexandra township, has twice defended successfully with knockouts.

Sibisi, from Ladysmith, and his Soweto-based foe will meet in the main supporting bout, followed by the KZN junior bantamweight title fight between Asanda Mkhwanazi and Nonkululeko Mncube.

Boxing SA’s provincial manager in KZN, Mlungisi Dube, says it’s all systems go for both tournaments.

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