IF the memorable gruelling wars that Nkqubela "Ike" Gwazela has fought are anything to go by, then the current South African bantamweight champion is living on borrowed time.
This was the forthright analysis by trainer Nick Durandt, whose charge Phumzile "Sweet Chocolate" Matyhila, will challenge Gwazela at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday.
"It's a tough but not impossible mission to achieve," Durandt said.
Gwazela will make the first defence of the national belt he won from a young, determined and competitive Klaas Mboyane on May 29. Gwazela made amends after being stopped in the 11th-round by Mboyane in their first clash on August 2 last year.
Gwazela, the former South African flyweight title holder, won the bantamweight strap when pessimists had already written him off.
Gwazela's skills had deteriorated after he had been in brutal fights with Ncedo Cecane, Patrick Twala, Lindi Memani, Moruti Mthalane, Khulile Makeba and Simphiwe Vetyeka.
Gwazela lost to Cecane in their first fight. He won the second, defeated Twala, Memani and Mthalane but lost to Vetyeka before defeating Nick Otieno over 10 rounds in December last year.
But Durandt said Gwazela was no longer the warrior he was five years ago.
"Look, I expect a tough fight but it will not be a surprise if Phumzile beats him," said Durandt.
Matyhila will be making his debut in the bantamweight class. He turned professional as a junior flyweight campaigner before he moved up to the junior bantamweight division.
"He has to go the extra mile to make the junior bantamweight limit. So he moved up to bantamweight and I think he is comfortable at this higher division.
"Matyhila has prepared very well for the fight. He has sparred mostly with Mthalane - the IBF flyweight champion - who has a similar fighting style to that of Gwazela, which is pressure, pressure all the way."
Gwazela, 30, from the popular Eyethu gym of accomplished promoter Mzimasi Mnguni in Mdantsane, East London, has had 14 stoppages from 19 wins in 26 fights.
The 34-year-old Matyhila, a former WBC International junior flyweight holder has on the other hand, had only nine short-route wins in 16 victories while suffering only one defeat.
This exciting fight will be presented by Mnguni under the banner of Eyethu Boxing Promotions.
Gwazela living on borrowed time - trainer
IF the memorable gruelling wars that Nkqubela "Ike" Gwazela has fought are anything to go by, then the current South African bantamweight champion is living on borrowed time.
This was the forthright analysis by trainer Nick Durandt, whose charge Phumzile "Sweet Chocolate" Matyhila, will challenge Gwazela at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday.
"It's a tough but not impossible mission to achieve," Durandt said.
Gwazela will make the first defence of the national belt he won from a young, determined and competitive Klaas Mboyane on May 29. Gwazela made amends after being stopped in the 11th-round by Mboyane in their first clash on August 2 last year.
Gwazela, the former South African flyweight title holder, won the bantamweight strap when pessimists had already written him off.
Gwazela's skills had deteriorated after he had been in brutal fights with Ncedo Cecane, Patrick Twala, Lindi Memani, Moruti Mthalane, Khulile Makeba and Simphiwe Vetyeka.
Gwazela lost to Cecane in their first fight. He won the second, defeated Twala, Memani and Mthalane but lost to Vetyeka before defeating Nick Otieno over 10 rounds in December last year.
But Durandt said Gwazela was no longer the warrior he was five years ago.
"Look, I expect a tough fight but it will not be a surprise if Phumzile beats him," said Durandt.
Matyhila will be making his debut in the bantamweight class. He turned professional as a junior flyweight campaigner before he moved up to the junior bantamweight division.
"He has to go the extra mile to make the junior bantamweight limit. So he moved up to bantamweight and I think he is comfortable at this higher division.
"Matyhila has prepared very well for the fight. He has sparred mostly with Mthalane - the IBF flyweight champion - who has a similar fighting style to that of Gwazela, which is pressure, pressure all the way."
Gwazela, 30, from the popular Eyethu gym of accomplished promoter Mzimasi Mnguni in Mdantsane, East London, has had 14 stoppages from 19 wins in 26 fights.
The 34-year-old Matyhila, a former WBC International junior flyweight holder has on the other hand, had only nine short-route wins in 16 victories while suffering only one defeat.
This exciting fight will be presented by Mnguni under the banner of Eyethu Boxing Promotions.
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