Deon Potgieter
boxing
Two of South Africa’s most talented boxers come in from the cold this weekend. Following a 19-month absence from the ring, former two-time welterweight world champion Peter “the Destroyer” Malinga headlines a box-and-dine tournament at the Kopanong hotel in Benoni on Saturday. Malinga was stripped of his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) welterweight world title in December last year due to his not defending the title, which he won in an upset over Spencer McCraken in London in October 1999.
Various reasons have been mooted for Malinga’s inactivity, ranging from promotional snarl-ups to problems within his training camp. Malinga is adamant, however, that he’s back and that he’s fitter and more motivated than ever to reclaim his lost glory. So confident is he of dispatching opponent Ashley Whiteboy that he has stated if he doesn’t stop the Cape Town-based fighter in five rounds, he will hang up his gloves. The World Boxing Union, whose headquarters are also at the Kopanong hotel, has expressed an eagerness to match Malinga with its current welterweight title holder, Michelle Piccirillo. Branco Milenkovic, who is promoting the tournament in conjunction with the Kopanong, is confident that he could also arrange an opportunity for Malinga to reclaim the IBO title. The title is now held by Willy Wise, a fighter who scored a controversial points decision over Dingaan Thobela in 1997. Malinga’s return to the ring comes at the expense of one of his former victims, Naas Scheepers. Scheepers was to have headlined the Kopanong bill following an absence from the ring for over two years, but was sidelined through injury. Sunday sees the welcome return to the ring of South Africa’s boxer of the year for 1999, Mpush Makambi. Makambi faces current national champion Anthony van Niekerk at Carnival City in Brakpan, in what could be one of the finest local bouts we’ll be seeing this year. Van Niekerk’s title-winning bout against Mondli Mbonambi was voted the fight of the year for 2000 at the Gauteng boxing awards held late last year. In that bout he displayed a dogged determination and a fighting spirit seldom seen in the ring.
Makambi, the former IBO middleweight world champion, is eager to get his career on track again after having just one fight over a 16-month period. While Makambi has more experience and skill, his long inactivity could count against him when he steps into the ring against one of the gutsiest and toughest boxers currently active in the country. To help in what he hopes will be the first step back towards international honours, Makambi called on the assistance of three-time world champion Thobela for sparring. The southpaw challenger will be looking to rough the champion up and to finish the fight early. This may, however, be exactly what Van Niekerk is looking for. When it’s brutal, its better for the boy from Bez Valley. By all accounts this should be a tremendous battle, with a rosy future awaiting the winner.
ENDS