Siyabonga ”Kid Chocolate” Nyanga ”will melt from the heat” turned on by Vus’Umuzi Malinga in a rematch for Malinga’s South African bantamweight title at the Soweto Community Hall in Orlando on Friday night.
This stern warning was issued on Thursday by the champion’s father, Jabulani, who doubles as his trainer.
The match will be Malinga’s fourth defence.
”Boxing fans in Soweto [which is Nyanga’s base] will witness their idol’s terrible defeat. He talks too much and we are going to shut his big mouth once and for all,” said Malinga Snr, who is a former professional boxer.
The rematch between the two gladiators, who both turned professional in 1999, will be televised live on SABC’s Blow by Blow from 10.15pm.
It has been dubbed ”Double Trouble” by promoter Branco Milenkovic of Branco Sports Production.
Malinga and Nyanga have met five times in the amateur ranks with Malinga winning three of those fights.
They first met as professionals in May last year, and again the left-handed champion from Katlehong on the East Rand out-pointed Nyanga over 12 rounds.
Malinga, who also holds the WBC International title, had Nyanga for supper for most of the 11 rounds.
Nyanga dazed Malinga with a swinging left hook in the 12th, but failed to take full advantage of the champion, who held on for dear life.
Malinga Snr said the challenger, whose skills are honed by Stanley Ndlovu from the Dube Boys Club, is going to be punished severely.
”We will destroy him completely and prove to the doubting Thomases that Nyanga is nowhere near Vusi’s class,” said Malinga.
Interestingly, the two boxers shared the ring at Nasrec on April 30 — but in different fights.
Nyanga dug deep into his reserves to overcome a determined Sonny-Boy Magazi, who gave a spirited performance throughout their fiercely contested four rounds in the main supporting bout.
Malinga easily deposed of Joel Bauya in one minute and 50 seconds to defend his WBC B-grade belt in the main contest.
Malinga dethroned Cedric Conway in three rounds in 2001.
The champion, who is the youngest of the three Malinga brothers (all boxers), boasts 12 wins against two defeats while Nyanga has a record of 13 victories, two losses and two draws.
The preliminary bouts also promise much entertainment.
Bonani Hlwatika and Mzikayise Mchasi will contest the vacant South African junior featherweight belt while Samuel Malinga and Lawrence Ngobeni will square up against each other over six rounds in the junior welterweight bout.
Patrick Malinga and Benedict Dlamini should thrill fans in their six-round scheduled lightweight fight.
The tournament will start at 8pm. — Sapa