DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Thursday 10.45am.
SO confident is Baby Jake Matlala of winning a historic fourth world title when he challenges Peter Culshaw for the WBU Flyweight world title on May 24, that he is looking beyond this bout to his eagerly awaited rematch with Hawk Makepula in August.
“I won our last fight,” says Matlala of the February bout in which Makepula was controversially awarded the decision.
“This time we’ll have overseas judges and Hawk will have to move up to flyweight to challenge me,” said a fired up Matlala.
“I am the champion and you are the challenger!” Matlala said to Makepula at a pre-fight press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Makepula said he would look at the August bout closer to fight-time, for now he is concentrating on his bout with Marcos Obregon on May 24.
“With this fight Hawk will prove that he is the hardest puncher in the division.” said Makepula’s trainer Mzi Mnguni.
Cassius Baloyi features in the third world title fight on the bill to be staged at Carnival City. He defends his WBU featherweight world title against his toughest opponent to date; Hector Lizarrago.
Lizarrago, a former IBF featherweight world champion lost a split decision to Mbulelo Botile late last year and previously stopped Welcome Ncita in eleven rounds.
Brian Mitchell, Botile’s trainer/manager said that this fight will prove his charge’s class and that he believes Baloyi id the best featherweight ever to come out of South Africa.