By Pule Mokhine

In an era in which there is a scarcity of local female World Boxing Council (WBC) champions, one fighter by the name of Smangele “Smash” Radebe has set herself a target of being a cut above the rest by becoming the country’s first pugilist to capture such a title.

The WBC is widely regarded as being the most prestigious sanctioning body globally by virtue of the caliber of its champions that are being referred to as being the cream of crop worldwide. The organisation’s crown – also deemed as being the real deal – has never been captured by any South African female pugilist since its inception. The organization whose headquarters are based in Mexico, towers sanctioning counterparts such as World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) who are also top controlling boxing entities.  However, it is the WBC which takes the cake in as far as top-class champions throughout the world are concerned. It’s against this background that Radebe wants to see herself having the WBC belt strapped around her waist in the not-too- distant future and become the first local female boxer ever to ascend this throne.

Only two local pugilists namely Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga and Dingaan “Rose” Thobela have so far managed to do the country proud by winning WBC championship belts during their illustrious careers in the ring before their retirement. They both captured their diadems as super middleweights.

Now Hadebe has set her sights on emulating her idols – Malinga and Thobela – in a unique manner by becoming the country’s first female to lift the championship of the WBC. “Smash” who is the current SA flyweight champion and the African Boxing Union (ABU) titlist, beat Tanzanian Stumai Muki on points in an ABU defense at Galleria Centre in Sandton in September last year.

Three weeks ago, Hadebe was at her element when she exposed the limitation of Asian champion Phannaluk Kongsang of Thailand by an impressive unanimous points decision over eight rounds at Nasrec. Now Hadebe, who is ranked 15th in the WBC and third in the Commonwealth. believes she is good enough to win all her upcoming fights and move up the ranking and ultimately have a crack at the WBC championship belt and become the country’s first lady to win it.

“I would like to make history by becoming the first lady here in Mzansi to win the WBC crown. I am quite happy with the manner in which my manger Colleen McAusland and the entire camp have been keeping me in shape to win fights,” said the boxer who comes from KwaThema in Springs, Gauteng and now based in Walkerville, also in Gauteng.

Hadebe feels being the number pugilist in Africa has given her sense of respectability on the continent to be able to make a mark in boxing. “Winning a WBC title is upper most in my mind. I am working very hard to win each bout that comes my way to improve my ratings, and ultimately go for the big fish, which is to lift the WBC belt. This will be the cherry on top of my boxing career.”

By her own admission, Hadebe has a great deal of admiration for both Malinga and Thobela, saying winning the WBC belt will also earn her a great deal of admiration in the boxing scene by putting Mzansi on the map as the WBC kingpin.

Her trainer McAusland said they were gunning to fight for the newly established WBC Ubuntu championship belt. The belt was awarded to Hekkie Budler in a recent fight which he won. “Look, winning this belt will obviously strengthen her chances of earning a shot at the main crown which is the WBC. But we will take each fight as it comes. The girl is in a class of her own to conquer the world,” says McAusland.

The boxing fraternity is waiting with bated breath to see whether “Smash” will ever reach for the skies to earn her dream WBC bout.

BOXERS VIE FOR TOP HONOURS AT THE AWARDS

GLOVES ASIDE: The gala will showcase local boxing’s cream of the  crop

By Pule Mokhine

It will be all systems go when the 2023 Boxing SA awards are held at Durban’s ICC Hall in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday night.

As usual, boxers will spare their fists and shove aside their gloves as they will be resplendent in suits and black ties to be rewarded for their efforts in the ring in the previous year’s boxing run. All in all, 11 categories have been nominated for those that will be honored for various sections during the proceeding marking the highlights of the sport of the fisticuffs during the previous calendar.

As usual, all eyes will firmly focus on who will be voted the country’s best boxer in the male and female categories respectively. Nominations for the male section is comprised of Sivenathi Nontshinga, John Bopape and Phumelela Cafu, who all fought their hearts out in the ring in their section.

The females nominated for the coveted accolades in the same category are: Bukiwe Nonina; Hedda Wolmarans and Smangele Hadebe. But the spotlight for the winner is likely to fall on Hadebe, nicknamed “Smash”, to win the coveted award of top boxer. She exposed her foes with ease so far to earn a great deal of respect from the boxing fraternity.

When it comes to picking the best manager, it will not come as a surprise when Charrit Mukondeleli is mentioned. He is contesting the spot alongside Colleen McAusland and Colin Nathan. McAusland has contributed immensely to the success of Hadebe’s boxing career so far.

Mukondeleli has admirably overseen the success of his protégé Thato “Captain Charisma” Bonokoane whose World Boxing Federation (WBF) title triumph over Diego Alberto Ruiz in March, saw the Kagiso, West Rand pugilist win WBF Boxer of the Year.

Other nominations:

KO of the Year – Xolisani Ndongeni vs Apinun Khongsong; Phumelela Cafu vs Tinashe Majoni; Bongani Mahlangu vs Ayabonga Sonjica.

Male Fight of the Year – Sinethemba Blom vs Kaine Fourie; Brandon Thysse vs Roarke Knapp; Nhlanhla Tyira vs Esneth Domingo.

Male Boxer of the Year – Sivenathi Nontshinga; John Bopape; Phumelela Cafu

Female Boxer of the Year: Bukiwe Nonina; Hedda Wolmarans; Smangele Hadebe

Promoter of the Year: TLB Promotions; Jackie Brice Promotions; ESPN Africa Promotions.

Female Prospect of the Year: Nomusa Ngema; Thobela Nyanda; Simamkele Tutsheni.

Male Prospect of the Year: Donjuan van Heerden; Cayden Truter; Keanu Koopman

Sports: 

Briefs

2023 SOWETO MARATHON ON    

This year’s Soweto Marathon has not been cancelled, officials have confirmed, following claims that the event had been called off.

After some controversy which arose last year regarding broadcast rights, three members of the Soweto Marathon Trust were suspended by Athletics South Africa (ASA). They included chairman Sello Khunou, Ishe Sadiki and Pamela Tainton.

A media statement released this week claiming the race had been scratched had been issued by the suspended individuals.

The 28th edition of the Soweto Marathon will be held on 5 November, starting and finishing at Nasrec.

ROYAL AM COULD FACE FIFA BAN

DStv Premiership side Royal AM are in hot water and face a hefty FIFA sanction after missing the deadline to pay striker Samir Nurkovic and his representatives – a sum understood to be around R12-million.

SABC Sport reported last week the Durban-based outfit was given until this past Monday to settle the debt enforced by the world governing body for terminating the player’s contract prematurely.

Nurkovic had initially joined Royal AM in July 2022 on a free transfer from Kaizer Chiefs for two seasons.

But the club owned by businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize failed to pay the first three months of his salary and subsequently claimed Nurkovic had been injured, moving quickly to try to terminate the agreement within 30 days.

WHO IS GOAT – FEDERER OR DJOKOVIC?

Roger Federer described Novak Djokovic’s record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title achievement as “unbelievable” on Wednesday but avoided anointing his old rival as the greatest player of all time.

“I think what Novak has done is unbelievable,” said Federer, who racked up 20 Grand Slams before he retired last year. Djokovic edged ahead of 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal when he won his third French Open in Paris earlier this month.

Federer, 41, speaking at the Halle grass-court tournament on Wednesday, admitted however it was “hard to say” who was best player of all time.

BOKS READY TO UNLEASH “MONSTER” KLEYN

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are relishing the opportunity to deploy South African-born Ireland lock Jean Kleyn for the Springboks. Kleyn was a surprise inclusion in a Bok training squad that assembled in Pretoria for a three-week training camp until Thursday, 29 June.

The 29-year-old played five Tests for Ireland after qualifying on residency grounds in September 2019, but the former DHL Stormers forward last played for Ireland on 12 October, 2019.

Addressing Kleyn’s selection this week in a Bok media conference, SA’s director rugby Erasmus told reporters: “He is a monster player who has played alongside RG [Snyman]. We often lose locks at the business end of campaigns due to the physical effort we request from them.

“We therefore felt our lock stocks weren’t sufficient. Jean’s inclusion strengthens our squad nicely.

CHELSEA LEADS IN MULTI-CLUB MODEL

Chelsea have bought a stake in Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, as owner Todd Boehly seeks to develop a multi-club model.

Reports emerged earlier this year that Chelsea had begun discussions with Strasbourg over a ‘full or partial takeover’ of the French side.  BlueCo, Chelsea’s parent owners, have confirmed the ‘strategic investment’ in Strasbourg, which they claim will ‘create huge opportunities’ for both clubs.

‘It is an honour for us to be part of this historic club,’ a BlueCo statement read.  ‘We are committed to preserving the heritage of Racing and are focused on working closely with Marc and his management team to continue the excellent work they have been doing.

Published on the 104th Edition

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