When Vuyani ”The Beast” Bungu climbs into the ring at Carnival City on Saturday night he will not merely be fighting an elimination bout for the right to contest the IBO featherweight world title. Bungu will be fighting for the right to leave the sport gracefully, champion that he is.
While some may pick the younger, more agile Takalani ”The Panther” Ndlovu as the logical victor, there’s nothing logical in such a prediction.
My adage is that a fired-up legend will always beat an average fighter, no matter what the age difference. Ndlovu does show promise, after all he is the South African champion in the weight and is deservedly so, but he has not faced anyone even remotely in the league of Bungu.
The Beast has obviously evolved into a different fighter than he was in the Nineties and shows a new weakness for left hooks that is worrying. But what he still has, and perhaps to an even larger degree than in his youth, is an indomitable spirit and die-hard determination.
Although he was never going to beat Lehlonolo Ledwaba in his last outing in July last year, Bungu showed tremendous form and discipline in his preparation for that fight. He also maintained a phenomenal work rate.
In a bid to shield his right eye, Bungu would be wise to adopt a southpaw stance, but given the man’s deep-seated passion to once again be named a world champion, he is likely to stop Ndlovu within the first five rounds.
Another fight on the under card of the Bungu-Ndlovu non-title fight that promises plenty of action is a catchweight bout between national lightweight champion Isaac Hlatshwayo and national junior welterweight kingpin Lucky Lewele. The winner in this encounter has also been promised a world title bout. While Lewele will carry a weight advantage into the ring by the time the fight starts, Hlatshwayo is a man on a mission and could well be fighting for world honours before Lewele will be.
Another man to look out for on the bill is nephew of former heavyweight world champion Gerrie Coetzee, Rupert van Aswegen. He will be looking to line up a showdown against national middleweight champion Mpush Makambi when he takes on Johannes Pietersen over six rounds.