UK
Deon Potgieter boxing It’s not often that a fighter receives a unanimous vote in South Africa as being pound-for-pound the best in the land, but ask anybody in the local fight game the question and you’re bound to get the answer: Lehlo Ledwaba. Ledwaba, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-featherweight world champion, makes the third defence of his title on Friday night in Britain in a bout which should be a breeze for him. The danger, however, is that neither he nor his trainer has any previous knowledge of the man they’re facing, Eduardo Alvarez. Although Alvarez has a record of 29 wins with two losses and five knockouts, he’s not rated highly internationally. His record indicates he can’t be much of a puncher, but underestimating an opponent has led to the undoing of many a champion. To Ledwaba’s credit, he boasts more than enough skill to adapt to any situation with ease and style. Promoter Rodney Berman has big plans for the man nicknamed “Hands of Stone”, including a possible unification bout with World Boxing Association champion Clarence Adams.
For these plans to materialise, however, Ledwaba has to keep winning. Winning is something he does well, and he has already notched up 30 wins with one loss and a draw, scoring 19 knockouts on the way. Although you’ll have to go a long way to find a nicer boxer than Ledwaba, he is an introverted person. If he were to come out of his shell and promote himself with more force, he could attain a popularity enjoyed by the likes of Dingaan Thobela. The fact that the Ledwaba camp did not insist on seeing some footage of their Argentinian opponent is worrying, though. After all, if there isn’t footage readily available of the man, is he a worthy contender for one of the more prestigious world titles? Also in action on Friday night in Britain, but not on the same bill, is World Boxing Union mini-flyweight champion Lindi Memani, who makes the fourth defence of his title against rugged British fighter Mickey Cantwell.
Memani is by and large one of our most underrated champions. He recently left trainer Mzi Mnguni’s stable and joined that of former IBF junior-featherweight world champion Welcome Ncita.