South African Boxing Buzz!

September 3, 2008

By Ron Jackson

Zack Mwekasse from the Democratic Republic the Congo and Josef Nagy of Hungary meet in what could be an explosive match-up for the vacant World Boxing Foundation cruiserweight belt in Secunda on Friday night.

The 24-year-old Mwekasse (8-0, 8 KOs) who fights out of Johannesburg made his pro debut in May 2006 and none of his opponents have heard the bell for the fourth round.

Mwekasse made his pro debut in May 2006 at Secunda with a third round knockout win over Bully Muravha and has never been extended in victories over Mark Strydom, Basil Ray, Nsitu Mbaya, Moyoyo Mensah, Gino Betoko, Chamunorwa Gonorenda and Luzimar Gonzaga. None of his opponents are recognisable on the world scene and Nagy will be the first real test in his career.

The 33-year-old Nagy (18-2, 12 KOs) has lost two of his last three fights, to Denis Inkin on a seventh round stoppage when challenging for the WBC International super middleweight title and the unbeaten Pawel Kolodziej on a technical decision.

His best victories have been over Danny Thornton for the vacant European Boxing Association super middleweight title and Darren Rhodes for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super middleweight title.

This will be Nagy’s third fight in the cruiserweight division after weighing 82.65 kg against Istvan Petroczki in February and 89.90 kg in May this year against Kolodziej.

On paper this is a better match-up than the debacles in recent WBF title fights, with both fighters have power in their right hands.

However, Mwekasse a former kick boxer always starts fast and could land a big right hand early on against the older and rather overweight Nagy.

The tournament at Graceland Casino will be the last one for Thinus Strydom as he has sold his interest in his World Sports Promotions Company.

* * *

South African flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane (22-1, 15 KOs) who won a final IBF title eliminator with an outstanding victory over Hussein Hussein in July this year is scheduled to challenge Nonito Donaire (19-1, 12 KOs) for the IBF flyweight belt at the Honda Centre in Anaheim , California on November 1. This fight will be on the undercard of the IBF/WBA welterweight title fight between IBF champion Joshua Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs) and WBA champion Antonio Margarito (37-5, 27 KOs).

* * *

It has been reported that flyweight Jackson Van Tonder Chauke who won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia and was beaten 9-1 by Anvar Yunusov of Tajikistan in his first fight at the Beijing Olympics, will join the professional ranks and is scheduled to fight on the Golden Gloves Promotion at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park on October 7.

* * *

This past Sunday, August 30 at a tournament in Mdantsane, Lwandile Sityatha fighting at junior flyweight stopped Siyasanga Soxuza in the second round.

* * *

Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions has announced the undercard to the Cassius Baloyi v Javier Alvarez IBF junior lightweight title fight to be held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on September 13. The bouts are: Junior lightweight, 4 rounds: Edward Kwezi v Owethu Mbiri; Super middleweight, 4 rounds: Mzukiseni Lengesi v Thomas Oosthuizen; Junior flyweight, 6 rounds: Daliswe Komani v Hekkie Budler; ABU super middleweight title, 12 rounds: Charles Adamu (Ghana) v Isaac Chilembe (Malawi).