DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Thursday 11.00am.
COME Tuesday 27 July, South Africa will have a new national junior featherweight champion.
Number three contender Charles “the prince” Mailula will meet the number one contender, Zolile Zono over twelve rounds at the Carousel to determine the ownership of the recently vacated title.
The national junior featherweight mantle carries with it a fair amount of prestige. It’s previous holder was Lehlo Ledwaba, the current IBF (International Boxing Federation) junior featherweight world champion. Ledwaba relinquished the national title after winning the world title earlier this year. His predecessor, for both the national and world title was, Vuyani Bungu and before them was Welcome Ncita.
The pressure of living up to the legacy of these great fighters will be placed upon the winner of Tuesday night’s battle. Mailula is the odds on favourite to take the crown and he’s confident he’ll be able to stop Zono. “I know he’s (Zono) a good fighter, but I already feel like a champion,” says Mailula.
Harold Volbrecht, Mailula’s trainer/manager echoed his fighters views “He (Mailula) has a beautiful right cross and can knock out anybody he hits. Take it from me, we’ll beat Zono.”
Zono, a tough fighter who himself is no slouch when it comes to finishing off an opponent, could easily shatter Mailula’s dreams however. This fight promises to be a gruelling affair and is almost certain to end within the distance.