South Africa: Top Boxing Returns To Graceland

Top-flight professional boxing returns to the popular Graceland Hotel Casino and Country Club in Mpumalanga for the third time this year with the “Fistic Fury” tournament on Friday, November 24, 2006.

Topping the impressive Branco Sports Productions (BSP) card will be the battle for the vacant WBC International super-flyweight title between national champion Zolile Mbityi and the top-rated unbeaten prospect Evans Mbamba.

The title was previously in South African hands, having been held by former three-time world champion Masibulela “Hawk” Makepula, who is Mbityi’s stablemate. Makepula lost his title on September 23 following his WBC world title eliminator defeat by Mexican legend Jorge Arce.

A great fight is in prospect between the experienced 43-fight veteran Mbityi (28 wins, 12 losses, 3 draws) and the youthful Mabamba, who plies his trade out of the Nic Durandt gymnasium in Johannesburg.

With the odds heavily stacked against him, Mbityi turned the division on it’s head a short while ago by upsetting the long-reigning SA champion Simon Ramoni at the Nasrec Indoor Arena in Johannesburg, opening the international door to him at this advanced stage of his career.

While promoter Branco Milenkovic has given Mbityi an international avenue to pursue after his shock victory over Ramoni, his newly-acquired national title won’t be on the line next Friday night at Graceland.

Mabamba’s outspoken trainer Durandt, however, whose charges have fallen foul of some well-documented questionable decisions in the ring of late, would obviously like nothing more than to reclaim the title belt held until recently by another of his boxers, Makepula.

Durandt, speaking from Thailand, where he’s spearheading Mhikiza Myekeni’s quest to annex the WBC world title, boldly predicts an upset on fight night. “The mere fact that Mbityi turned down an offer to put his SA title on the line at the same time, suggests he isn’t very confident of victory and needs something to fall back on when he loses to my man,” barked Durandt.

As boxing fans have become accustomed to with BSP tournaments and in contrast to many of their competitors, a top-drawer undercard has been lined up. As the country’s top prospects try impress the promoter and earn their place on the bigger stage.

The two main supporting bouts on the card could well steal the show. That’s headed up by a slated six rounder in the lightweight division between the ever-entertaining SA # 5, Patrick Malinga and the SA # 10 Evans Mamaleka from Limpopo Province.

Fireworks can also be expected in a scheduled six-round junior lightweight scrap between SA # 4 Jasper Seroka and one of Mpumalanga’s favourite sons, Patrick Masango from WItbank.

There will be an additional two fights on the bill…a six rounder between Tshepo Mafeking and Lehlohonolo Nthontho as well as a four-round lightweight contest between Lucky Makhubela (Witbank) and Johannesburg-based Jacques Stapelberg.

The tournament will be screened live on SABC Sport’s Blow by Blow—Uncut on SABC 2 from 22h00. Admission prices remain unchanged at R50-00.

Meanwhile, promoter Branco Milenkovic has just returned from Hamburg in Germany after watching his welterweight charge, Joseph “Smokin Joe” Makaringe (30 wins, 2 losses) going down by an unlucky split decision to the German-based Turkish fighter Alpaslam Aguzum (32 wins, 2 losses) in attempting to defend his WBC International title.

Makaringe was deducted a point for a low blow in the 11th round, but still pushed the strong German all the way. Milenkovic, however, was defiant in defeat and is not about to abandon his quest to get Makaringe (WBC # 4) back to the top. “ It was a very brave performance and I feel the point deducted in the 11th, played a major role in him not retaining his title,” said Milenkovic.

Further Inquiries can be Directed to: Branco Milenkovic on (083) 378-2337