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‘SWAZI MAYWEATHER’ IN ABU BOUTS

13/09/2021 09:03:00 Ntokozo Magongo

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MBABANE – It’s all good news for professional boxer Sibonelo ‘Swazi Mayweather’ Ndzimandze as he will be back in the ring next month.

The only current professional boxer in the country will be battling it out in the ABU SADC Junior Welterweight in Pietermaritzburg City Hall, South Africa on October 8. Ndzimandze, who is based in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal to be precise, will face Marcus Lebogo from Gauteng. The boxer is nicknamed ‘Swazi Mayweather’ in KZN. The African Boxing Union (ABU) is a not for profit regional sanctioning body that awards regional boxing titles in the African region. It is a boxing federation within the World Boxing Council (WBC).

signed

Ndzimandze said he had already signed for the tournament, a confirmation to his participation. He said he was happy with the opportunity of showcasing his talent, especially as he is from hard times, with his career almost blown away by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Hard work, perseverance, dedication and patience have finally paid off. Getting this opportunity is a privilege considering how difficult it is getting a fight in South Africa and let alone a title shot. One is really privileged indeed because the ABU tittle is rated by WBC,” he said. Ndzimandze is the current only liSwati to turn a professional boxer. He will also be the first boxer in the country to fight for an ABU title.

“Winning this title won’t be child’s play. I will be playing at higher level. I intend to use this fight to inspire the youth of Eswatini not to give up on their talents but to continue pushing because God has given us talents for a reason. I also want to use this fight to thank the promoter who gave me this opportunity,” he added. Ndzimandze said he wanted to win the title for the KZN Department of Sports because they have been developing him since 2012 when he was an armature. “I was Uthungulu champion under King Cetswayo in 2013. I represented KZN team and won a gold medal for the province. Back then in amateurs it was the KZN Department of Sports that supported me. Even now at professional the KZN is still supporting us. So I intend to win this title to honour KZNDSR and to show them that the millions they invest in sports do play a major role in the community.

The mandate of KZN Department of Sports is to bring back the glorious days of the past where KZN was number one in boxing so I want to win this title to honour that objective of the province,” he concluded.