DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Monday 4.25pm.
ALTHOUGH it will be just over a year since Vuyani “The Beast” Bungu last climbed into the ring, when he faces “Prince” Naseem Hamed on 11 March, he is confident of victory.
“Hamed isn’t invincible,” says Bungu “He can have all his fanfare, but he’s still only a man. He can be beaten and the man to beat him will be me.”
“It is a concern that Vuyani hasn’t fought for a long time,” says Mzi Mnguni, Bungu’s trainer/manager “But he’s been sparring and training throughout the year, so I know he’s in good condition.”
Bungu and Mnguni will be leaving for London this week for a press conference to officially announce the WBO featherweight bout. “If Bungu beats Hamed, our next fight will be a rematch with Hamed,” says Mnguni, “but that suites us fine. A rematch with Hamed would be worth more money than a unification bout with any of the other champions.”
Bungu received the opportunity of fighting Hamed after the champion’s bout with Junior Jones fell through. Second choice opponent IBF featherweight champ Paul Ingle declined the fight. Bungu is reported to be earning R2,5-million rand to face Hamed. “We would have preferred to have had more time before the fight,” says Mnguni, “but beggars can’t be choosers.”