Boxing In South Africa: “Storm Brewing” at Wembley Indoor Arena

Storm clouds are gathering in the south of Johannesburg again, as Branco Sports Productions (BSP) is set to stage a major boxing extravaganza at the Wembley Indoor Arena on Friday 9 November.

Teaming up yet again with the Gauteng Province, the “Home of Champions”, multiple award-winning promoters BSP have put together a six-fight card which includes three title bouts (2 WBC International and 1 SA title).

Topping the bill are two stable mates Lucky Lewele and Vincent Vuma, who will both defend their International titles in their respective weight categories.

Lewele (WBC # 7) will be putting both his WBC International and national welterweight titles on the line against the unbeaten former Commonwealth Games gold medalist and current SA # 3 Bongani Mwalase (9-0 all by way of KO).

Vuma, the reigning WBC International junior middleweight champion, will make the first defence of his title against the tough 42-fight Argentinean veteran Raul Eduardo Bejarano (24 wins – 11 KO’s – 14 losses, 4 draws).

The tournament appropriately billed “ Storm Brewing” will also feature promising imports from Botswana, lightweight Kgotla Baeti, as well as junior bantamweight Lesley Sekotswe.

What makes both WBC champions Lewele (28 fights, 25 wins – 18 KO’s – 3 losses) and Vuma’s (25 fights, 23 wins – 14 KO’s – 2 losses) accomplishments more remarkable, is the fact they captured their respective titles abroad.

Lewele won his green belt on 31 March in Germany against the very highly regarded Alpaslan Aguzum (stoppage in round 8) and Vuma also ended his contest in eight rounds against the unbeaten Mark Thompson in Manchester, England on July 6.

Co-promoter and four-time former world champion Baby Jake Matlala could only raise a perplexed frown when he discussed his partner’s decision to match these two crack fighters against such difficult opponents.

“I know we never, as a rule, take any soft options for our charges,” remarked Matlala.

“Lewele is facing an unbeaten man who has been calling for this fight for months on end now, but to be frank, I’m a touch worried why Branco chose a man with a 100 % knockout ratio as a voluntary challenger for both of his titles,” added Matlala.

Matlala also highlighted the fact that while the tough Argentinean Bejarano has suffered 14 defeats in his lengthy 42-fight career, one cannot ignore the fact that he has never been stopped.
Both champions will be out to impress promoter Milenkovic, ahead of his departure after the tournament for the WBC Annual Convention in Manila, Philippines, where he hopes to secure better ratings for all nine of the WBC International champions under BSP’s wing.

A fight which may well steal the main bout’s thunder on the night, could well be the lightweight scrap between Kgotla Baeti (13 wins – 11 KO’s – 1 loss, 1 draw) and current SA # 2 Gabriel Phakula (21-5) from the Manny Fernandez stable.

The “Storm Brewing” tournament, in association with Gauteng – The Home of Champions, will be televised live on SABC Sport (10pm) and ticket prices remain unchanged and have been pegged back at a very reasonable R50-00.

Full bill attached!

Issued For and on Behalf of Branco Sports Productions by: Trevor Cramer Communications (082) 770-0677.

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