OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 11.00am.
PUNDITS expect South African junior flyweight Hawk Makepula to be South Africa’s first professional boxer to take a championship on the hallowed ground of New York’s Madison Square Gardens, on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning SA time).
Makepula will be fighting Rafael Torres of the Dominican Republic for the World Boxing Union junior flyweight title, on a triple bill organised by United States promoter Cedric Kushner.
“[Makepula] is going to make big waves in world boxing in years to come,” said Kushner.
Makepula is unbeaten in 13 paid fights, 11 of which were ended before the scheduled number of rounds expired.
Torres is slightly more experienced than Makepula, with 22 professional bouts to his name, 15 of which he won, but only two via knock-out.
“Hawk will beat Torres, of that I’m sure. He is to become an international star of repute,” said South Africa’s Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman.