Articulate, incisive boxer Silence Mabuza is rated fifth best in his division in the world by the authoritative Ring magazine.
And, taking this assessment at face value, the versatile bantamweight champion should have little trouble in accounting for little-known Argentinean journeyman Damien Marchiano in the main bout on Golden Gloves ”Fists of Steel” bill at Emperors Palace on Saturday night.
Like everyone else, Mabuza confessed to knowing little about his opponent, proclaiming ”if he’s come to fight, I’ll outfight him. If he’s come to box, I’ll outbox him.”
Marchiano and his handlers demonstrated an unusual boxing trait in pre-fight publicity gathering this week, preferring to remain more silent than Silent while suggesting they might well unleash fists of steel and do their talking in the ring.
Also on the programme is a bout between veteran Hawk Makepula and fellow East Londoner Zolile Mbitya for the vacant IBO junior bantamweight title.
Enterprising promoter Rodney Berman has a sharp eye when it comes to spotting vacant IBO titles and his latest catch has tempted one-time champion Makepula to emerge from effective retirement to engage with the youthful Mbitya in what has been termed a grudge match.
And talking of grudge match-ups, the publicists have been beating their drums about crusty Anthony van Niekerk’s return to the ring to challenge Daniel Bruwer for the South African light-heavyweight title.
Bruwer, an odds-on favourite to retain his crown, turned up late for Friday’s official weigh-in, and then only just made the limit — prompting one of Van Niekerk’s handlers to optimistically proclaim: ”Lucky he’s sweating just thinking about the fight — otherwise he would have failed to make the weight.”
South African heavyweight champion Osborne Machimana, who this week was the recipient of a handsome sponsorship from hosts Emperors Palace, defends his title against Cape Town’s Myan Solomons.
Supporting bouts:
Welterweight: (four rounds) Mbuso Ndlela vs Boitshepo Mandawe.
Light heavyweight: (four rounds) Jared Lovett vs Micus Diseko.
First fight is at 8pm. — Sapa