{"id":302839,"date":"2022-04-27T04:08:41","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T02:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/boxers-fit-for-the-fight-20220425\/"},"modified":"2022-04-27T04:08:41","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T02:08:41","slug":"boxers-fit-for-the-fight-20220425","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/boxers-fit-for-the-fight-20220425\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxers fit for the fight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The stakes are high in a boxing match between Nkululeko Mhlongo, defending champion, and John Bopape, challenger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pair will face off for the title of South African middleweight champion on Friday (29\/04).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This intriguing contest is scheduled to take place in the Mangaung Indoor Sports Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In their first meeting, a non-title bout in Durban early last year, title-hungry Bopape (29) won on points against Mhlongo \u201cThe Bulldog\u201d (40). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Friday Mhlongo will therefore look to prove to Bopape that his win in the non-title bout was a fluke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If Bopape\u2019s performance in 2021 is anything to go by, he is capable of ending the reign of his veteran opponent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mhlongo won the title in 2019 when he stopped Walter Dlamini via technical knockout in Pretoria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In November 2021 he again demonstrated his killer instinct by dethroning Namibian Lukas Ndafoluma to claim the World Boxing Organization\u2019s title of Africa middleweight champion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mhlongo is a decorated fighter with a winning reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He has held the World Boxing Association\u2019s African title, as well as the World Boxing Federation\u2019s (WBF) intercontinental super welterweight title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Friday Mhlongo will therefore look to prove to Bopape that his win in the non-title bout was a fluke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The veteran fighter is now fighting under the banner of the Bloemfontein-based Dream Team Gym.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lebohang Mahoko, director of the gym, believes Mhlongo will be hard to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> 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. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Another contest will see Zolile Miya and Mpho Seforo slugging it out over six rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A women\u2019s bout will feature current South African and WBF reigning champion Matshidiso \u201cScorpion Queen\u201d Mokebisi against Cicilia Pitiseni, while another will see Nosiacwase \u201cGolden Girl\u201d Dube taking on Sehliselwe Nhliziyo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Friday Mhlongo will therefore look to prove to Bopape that his win in the non-title bout was a fluke. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The stakes are high in a boxing match between Nkululeko Mhlongo, defending champion, and John Bopape, 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