Boxers face off before big fight

A press conference held by Team Dida Boxing Promotions has assured boxing fans that on Friday, 28 June, the belt for the currently vacant South African Championship will be wrapped around a boxer’s waist after the tournament.

Two decorated boxers, Innocent Mantengu and Thato Bonokoane, are set to lock horns again for this title at Day of Reckoning Reloaded at the Kagiso Memorial and Recreational Centre.

The duo, who have promised boxing fans world-class boxing during their main fight, will be fighting for the second time after their previous encounter ended in a draw, a result which left both boxers and their fans most unhappy.

Now that the tournament promoter, Meme Dipheko, has assured the public at the conference that one of the boxers will be emerging supreme after the fight, a result is expected.

“There is going to be a result on 28 June. There should be a winner after the fight. Title fights don’t have to draw,” she said, alluding to a foul from the officials at the previous title fight, which was scored a draw.

Both fighters and their coaches also had an opportunity to share their optimism before entering the ring. Bonokoane’s coach, Dida Dipheko, had the following to say: “Their previous fight was a good fight, but it was not a blast. I was not satisfied. I thought Thato would have done better and I still think he won the fight, but we are fine with how the judges scored it. But for this coming fight, we are going to see a blast, because both boxers are world-class”.

Bonokoane, who wasn’t pleased with his first fight, said he won’t dwell on the past – instead, he will focus on the future. “I felt I won the previous fight but that doesn’t matter any more. God is great, because he has granted me another chance to be an SA champ come 28 June,” he said.

Mantengu’s camp, Siyanqoba, which was gunning for a knockout at the previous match, still vowed to execute it. “I think we made a mistake with our knockout strategy. We tried numerous times to get him down, but he was very lucky. We’ve prepared differently this time and we’ve done our homework, although the square ring is not big enough, but we are going to catch him,” said Matengu’s coach, John Tshabalala, who also promised a knockout.

Mantengu concluded by pleading with the officials at the fight to do their jobs well. “All we can do is beat each other in the ring until there is a title winner, but we can’t judge or referee the fight for ourselves. So we hope the officials will do their jobs,” he stated.