Pretoria - Gauteng is ready to host six boxing fights which are aimed at restoring what was arguably one of the top three popular sports in the country.
“As Gauteng, we want to be a leading role player in hosting and bringing about top boxing action into South Africa … we wanted to be the first hosts of the ‘Boxing is Back’ initiative with all the partners,” Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Molebatsi Bopape, said on Thursday.
She said in the future the province wants big international fights to be hosted in Gauteng.
All boxers who will participate in the ‘Boxing is Back’ fights have arrived and are ready for Friday’s fight night which will be held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre.
Minister for Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula said South Africa is preserving boxing by lifting the blackout on the sport.
“This lifting signifies an era of nurturing champions and ensuring that we once more bring back the glory days of boxing.
“Boxing is back, it’s going to be a spectacle that will remain imbedded in all South Africans minds,” Minister Mbalula said.
The main attraction will be South Africa’s Klaas Mboyane, the current WBO International champion, who takes on Tapiwa Tembo of Zimbabwe in a 10 round brawl for the International Bantamweight title.
Walter Dlamini will also take on Tebogo Molose in a 10 round bout for the Gauteng Middleweight title.
The title fights will be live on SABC 2 from 9:30pm with a build-up on channel 404.
“Our partnership with the SABC will once more ensure that we relieve the yesteryears of this sport and further ensure that we popularise athletes in making them the greats of this wonderful game,” Minister Mbalula said. – SAnews.gov.za
