The stakes are high in a boxing match between Nkululeko Mhlongo, defending champion, and John Bopape, challenger.
The pair will face off for the title of South African middleweight champion on Friday (29/04).
This intriguing contest is scheduled to take place in the Mangaung Indoor Sports Centre.
In their first meeting, a non-title bout in Durban early last year, title-hungry Bopape (29) won on points against Mhlongo “The Bulldog” (40).
At the time, Bopape had ranked third in Boxing South Africa ratings and required some wins under his belt in order to qualify to compete for the title.
On Friday Mhlongo will therefore look to prove to Bopape that his win in the non-title bout was a fluke.
If Bopape’s performance in 2021 is anything to go by, he is capable of ending the reign of his veteran opponent.
Mhlongo won the title in 2019 when he stopped Walter Dlamini via technical knockout in Pretoria.
In November 2021 he again demonstrated his killer instinct by dethroning Namibian Lukas Ndafoluma to claim the World Boxing Organization’s title of Africa middleweight champion.
Mhlongo is a decorated fighter with a winning reputation.
He has held the World Boxing Association’s African title, as well as the World Boxing Federation’s (WBF) intercontinental super welterweight title.
On Friday Mhlongo will therefore look to prove to Bopape that his win in the non-title bout was a fluke.
The veteran fighter is now fighting under the banner of the Bloemfontein-based Dream Team Gym.
Lebohang Mahoko, director of the gym, believes Mhlongo will be hard to beat.
- The boxing bill will feature eight supporting bouts. One of these is the junior middleweight championship clash featuring Bloemfontein-based Jackson Kaptain against Junior Makondo.
Another contest will see Zolile Miya and Mpho Seforo slugging it out over six rounds.
A women’s bout will feature current South African and WBF reigning champion Matshidiso “Scorpion Queen” Mokebisi against Cicilia Pitiseni, while another will see Nosiacwase “Golden Girl” Dube taking on Sehliselwe Nhliziyo.
On Friday Mhlongo will therefore look to prove to Bopape that his win in the non-title bout was a fluke.
