”I will make Bungu to retire from boxing because his time is over, declared challenger Thomas Mashaba ahead of his clash against the legendary Vuyani Bungu at a pre-medical examination on Tuesday.
The two will meet in an International Boxing Organisation (IBO) world featherweight title bout on Saturday night.
Mashaba flew specially from Johannesburg to attend the session although he could have held his own in his home city. After the session he flew back home and will return to East London on Friday for the official weigh-in.
”I wanted to come here and show Bungu that I am fully prepared to send him to retirement,” he explained after registering 57,25kg, more than two kilograms less than Bungu’s 59,70kg.
”I am already within the weight limit and right now I am only perfecting my fight strategy. I have the biggest respect for Bungu but some boxers need to be reminded the harsh way that their time in the ring is over. That is why I intend to inflict pain on him,” said the 28-year-old, who is 10 years younger than Bungu.
Mashaba is also an International Boxing Association world champion, but in a lower division.
Ironically, he annexed the world crown from Bungu’s stablemate Zolani Marali when he forced the latter to quit in the eighth round last year.
Asked why he was moving up a division instead of defending his own world crown, Mashaba said he wanted to beat a big name like Bungu.
”There are not many big name fighters in my division so I decided to move up to beat the great one so that people could start respecting me.”
Bungu was all smiles during the pre medical and refused to be drawn into verbal war with Mashaba.
”He can talk all he wants but I am a champion and will remain one after Saturday,” he said.
”I have enough experience to deal with anything he brings into the ring.”-Sapa