LIMPOPO – “Nobody can defeat me on my home ground. I have knocked down people in every corner of South Africa” – South Africa’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) International Bantamweight champion, Klaas Ironman Mboyane.
Mboyane is set to defend his title in Polokwane on 4 December against the Namibian fighter, Joseph Smokey Hilongwa.
Mbuyane (33) from Mokopane won the WBO International Bantamweight championship in England when he knocked down Ross Burkinshaw in the fourth round in front of the crowd of 15 000 people who were supporting their home boy in June this year.
Mbuyane’s promoter, Phathutshedzo Dongola, said negotiation is afoot with the Limpopo government and he is positive that the Limpopo government will put its weight behind the title defense.
He said Mbuyane inspires the world as a whole and failure to defend will demoralise even those who consider boxing a career.
“Limpopo has an abundance of talent when it comes to boxing. We must nurture and promote them to a greater height, so that we can galvanise the future of boxing for the boxers, as Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, stated in the 2013 Boxing Indaba held at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane.
“The situation of boxers relinquishing titles because of not getting support to defend happened some years ago to South African boxers like Noni Thenge and Tommy Oosthuizen,
“The minister, who is passionate about boxing, has saved boxers on several occasions.
“In Limpopo, we have very few champions, so let’s support them and raise the flag high,” Dongola said.
Spokesperson for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Malesela Ramaoko, said he will sit down with the head of department to see about involvement in this fight and the media will be informed about the outcome in due course.
