BOITSHEPO "Fighting Prince" Mandawe's future looks brighter after he was bumped up to second in the national welterweight ratings, and he could even be No 1 by end of the weekend.

BOITSHEPO "Fighting Prince" Mandawe's future looks brighter after he was bumped up to second in the national welterweight ratings, and he could even be No 1 by end of the weekend.

The disgruntled Sowetan was third in the ratings, bellow Pius Dipheko and Mthobisi Buthelezi - Chris van Heerden is the national champion - but had complained that no one wanted to fight him after his second-round knockout win over Welcome Ntshingila.

"They don't want to challenge me or give me action which will see me move up in the ratings," Mandawe moaned on Wednesday.

But the rising star got an early Christmas present when Boxing SA's acting chief executive Loyiso Mtya, who is also in charge of the ratings, announced yesterday that Buthelezi had forfeited his position after a defeat in Serbia.

Mandawe took over Buthelezi's position.

Mtya explained that Mandawe and his trainer Jerry Phukuje were not aware of the changes because there could be a further twist after two fights this weekend.

In the first fight Van Heerden takes on Venance Mponja from Tanzania over 10 rounds tonight, while the second is a WBO Africa title fight between Dipheko and Sam Malinga at Wembley Arena tomorrow night.

"If Pius loses then Mandawe will be the No 1 contender," said Mtya.