Malajika back in the ring

The South’s boxing pride is bound back inside the ring regarding the approval of the country’s official board, Boxing South Africa (BSA).

According to well-known promotor and organiser, Jeff Ellis, it is a question of how boxing will return to action and not when.

“Golden Gloves are planning to stage a two-evening boxing tournament, at Emperors Palace promoted by Golden Gloves, under the lockdown procedures announced by the government,” said Ellis.

“We will have two fight nights, as we are only allowed to have four bouts per evening and so many people attending, such as the trainer, and officials per evening.”

The tournaments are set to take place over two evenings in September at Emperor’s Palace with only the fighters, their corners and another essential personnel present, pending approval from Boxing South Africa. Top ranking Ricardo Malajika, junior bantamweight, from the South will appear in one of those evenings and is set to be the main drawing card.

The up and coming event “All or Nothing” featuring the 4@War junior middleweight tournament finals and third place bout will also be on the cards. Boxing enthusiasts will be able to view this on TV.

On September 1, the card will be headlined by 6-0 African Boxing Union (ABU) All Africa champion, Ricardo Malajika.

He would have taken on Jonas Sultan from the Philippines before Covid-19 pandemic halted all sporting activities.
He will now take on the 13-2 Sikho Nqothole over 10 rounds for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan African junior bantamweight crown.

Nqothole has the held the same Pan African belt before and is the more experienced of the two, having gone the 12-round distance twice. He has nine knockouts two stoppages in a row, winning the International Boxing Organasition (IBO) All-Africa title in his last bout against Jemsi Kibazange.

His trainer, Alan Toweel, said, “I think Sikho has got this one, I really believe it. Malajika is quick, he is flashy, but the real Sikho has not come out yet. I think it will be an exciting fight between a southpaw and a good orthodox boxer, but Sikho has the style to beat him.”

In his last outing, Malajika had to get off the canvas twice to score an eighth-round stoppage over unbeaten Mnqobi Mkhize so he will have something to prove.

Trainer Anton Gilmore said, “Ricardo’s legs weren’t working like it should have. I won’t say we underestimated Mkhize, we knew he was undefeated, but his style was unconventional and difficult to deal with. In fact, it was a blessing in disguise because the fight showed us what we still need to work on.”

“Will we see an improved Malajika working his magic or will Nqothole announce his arrival as a force to be reckoned with? We will just have to wait and see.”

In the main supporting bout, 8-2 Tristan Truter will meet 9-1-1 Roarke Knapp over eight rounds for the third place of the 4@War junior middleweight tournament.

Truter put up an epic fight against Boyd Allen. It was touch and go, but in the end, he lost by TKO in the last round.

“It was a bit disappointing,” said trainer, Harold Volbrecht.

“I thought that he could have taken advantage of Boyd’s mistakes a bit more. He was still on his feet in the last round, I think they stopped it a bit early.”

Volbrecht is a man with a plan for his charge. “I’m glad the fight is happening now and not later. I think Brandon Thysse is going to beat Boyd Allen in the final and I am hoping that we could get a rematch against Boyd after this one.”

Roarke Knapp was giving Brandon Thysse something to think about in the middle rounds before it all came apart in the seventh. Knapp’s trainer Vusi Mtolo puts that loss down to a lack of focus and is confident that his charge can redeem himself against Truter.

“Tristan Truter is a good boxer and his trainer is one of the best. I respect them but Roarke has power. Truter won’t be able to stand and trade with him. He might get on his feet and move away, amateur style, then it may go the distance, but we have a plan for that.”