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Impatient Mandawe sets bait

WINNING the Gauteng provincial welterweight title seems to have brought more misery than joy, fame and fortune for Boitshepo Mandawe.

WINNING the Gauteng provincial welterweight title seems to have brought more misery than joy, fame and fortune for Boitshepo Mandawe.

"No fighter in the top 10 ratings nationally wants to fight me since I stuffed up Welcome Ntshingila in two rounds for the provincial title in September," he complained yesterday.

"There is not a single challenge. My trainer Jerry Phukuje has tried unsuccessful to get Mthobisi Buthelezi who is the No 2 nationally to fight me.

"I want his rating in order to qualify to challenge national champion Chris van Heerden.

"Promoter Branco Milenkovic said he has big plans abroad for Buthelezi, so Buthelezi must lose his rating here.

"I am not as fortunate as some of them - as a promoter who can look further than South Africa. My intention is to rule here at home first, be known before I go outside the country."

This motor-mouth fighter from Meadowlands, Soweto, who backs his big talk with his fists, added that he felt like the only boxer in the top 10 ratings.

Mandawe, the victor in 2007's Baby Champs, tasted defeat against Van Heerden in July. Mandawe had been undefeated in 11 fights (9 KOs) since turning professional in 2006.

"I proved my readiness to fight Chris again by easily stuffing up the highly regarded Ntshingila, who went the full distance with Chris.

"This shows that I am the best. Whoever doubts this must prove his point and give me action now," he said.

Phukuje also vented his spleen during the interview: "This is the price of not belonging to prominent promoters. Mandawe could also be suffering for my sins, that I am not aware of."

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