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Nongqayi warned to be wary of Ler

Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Unbeaten senior citizen Simphiwe "Golden Master" Nongqayi risks his World Boxing Foundation (WBF) junior bantamweight strap against Argentinian opponent Julio Ler in the main event of the World Sports Promotions (WSP) bill at Nasrec tomorrow night.

The 35-year-old father of two from Mdantsane will bid for the third defence of the belt he earned in December 2006 with an eighth-round stoppage of Khulile Makeba.

Nongqayi, under the guidance of Nick Durandt, is yet to taste defeat after 13 wins (six KOs).

Boxing pundits who witnessed Ler give Tshifhiwa "Atomic Spider" Munyai hell for the WBA Inter-Continental bantamweight strap in the Free State in February, are of the opinion that Nongqayi will kiss the belt goodbye.

Ler, who campaigns in the junior bantamweight division, gave Munyai hell but the fighter from Limpopo, a special talent, doused that fire, though he had to settle for a unanimous points win.

Howard Goldberg, a former top boxing referee and judge, who now represents the WBF in Africa, warned that Nongqayi must be vigilant.

"He cannot afford to blink. That is how dangerous Ler is," Goldberg warned.

Nongqayi has shown durability and his confidence as a fighter has grown since he won the WBF belt. It showed in his seventh-round stoppage of Rafael Tirodo in May, and last August against Feliciano Dario Azuaga Ledezma.

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