While most pundits are backing Mzukisi Sikali to beat Hawk Makepula on Friday night at Carnival City, they could be in for a nasty surprise. The two fighters will be trading blows for Sikali’s International Boxing Organisation flyweight world title in an eagerly anticipated rematch.
Sikali dethroned Makepula for the title in September last year and neither fighter has been in the ring since.
Sikali suffered a severe cut early on in that fight and won the hearts of most at ringside by coming back strongly to win the crown by dom-inating the middle rounds. He stunned Makepula, and at times the defending champion looked on the brink of being knocked out.
The Hawk himself showed tremendous guts in holding on, despite suffering severe leg cramps, and emerging as the aggressor in the last rounds. The bout was a classic confrontation and one that certainly deserves an encore.
A major stumbling block for Makepula is his battle to make the weight-limit. He has been dogged by leg cramps in a number of his fights, which have been brought about by dehydration.
On a level playing field Sikali will be out of his depth. While he does possess the physical abilities to beat Makepula again, he does not have the psychological make-up to do so.
Elvis Makama has nothing to lose when he challenges Mzonke Fana for the World Boxing Council international junior-lightweight title at the Oliver Tambo hall in Khayelitsha on Friday. With only 11 fights to his credit, nobody is expecting him to win. A loss at this early stage of his career would be acceptable against a man who carries a top five rating in the organisation. A win, however, would rocket him up the rankings. Fana on the other hand, has nothing to gain bar a pay cheque.