Cape Town – The World Boxing Federation (WBF) has thrown fight-starved Cape Town fans a lifeline by staging two world title fights on the 'Fight for Hope' bill at the Oliver Tambo Hall, Khayelitsha, on Friday March 31.
It's been a decade ago, that the Mother City last hosted a world title fight and apart from the two world title bouts, there will be an exhibition bout featuring South Africa's Francois Botha and Germany's Uwe Hueck. 'The White Buffalo' Botha is the former IBF World heavyweight champ (he defeated Axel Schulz in Germany, in 1995).
During his 63 pro fight career, he fought the likes of Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko, Shannon Briggs, Mike Tyson and Michael Moorer, all world champs at one or the other time.
His only fight in Cape Town was back in 1991, a year after his pro debut, at the Good Hope Centre. Hueck is a former European Thai boxing champion and defeated Botha in an exhibition match in Germany last year.
Hueck has also fought other previous world champs in exhibition bouts in Germany.
The first world title bout will for the vacant WBF bantamweight belt between Khayelitsha's Mzuvukile 'Old Bones' Magwaca and Filipino Jason Canoy. Magwaca will be hoping to be Khayelitsha's next world champ after Mzonke 'The Rose of Khayelitsha' Fana who won the IBF World super featherweight title at the same venue in April 2007.
South Africa’s Bokiwe Nonina, from the North West Province, features in the other world title bout. She goes up against Germany’s Alesia Graf for the WBF Women’s world bantamweight title.
The WBF has given SA boxers several opportunities to fight for world titles in recent times. The tournament matchmaker Zola 'Mr Magic' Koti has lined up a few interesting fights on the undercard. The promising Gauteng junior middleweight Hansie Carr will fight in a six-rounder against Chris Mugisho from the DRC. Mugisho has been fighting out of Cape Town for a few years now.
Other bouts include:
Junior middleweight, 4 rounds: Emile Kalekuzi v Mzwanadodo Mimarus. Bantamweight, 6 rounds: Bongani Mbiko v Tapiwe Jaravaza. Bantamweight, 4 rounds: Mnikelo Ndema v Bonani Ngozi. Junior-welterweight, 6 rounds: Vuzumsi Tyatyeka v Apiwe Myoyo.