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Foreign rival for forgotten champ

FADING: SA middleweight champion Christopher Buthelezi in his failed attempt to beat Andre Thysse for the super middle- weight title Photo: Tertius Pickard/ Gallo Images
FADING: SA middleweight champion Christopher Buthelezi in his failed attempt to beat Andre Thysse for the super middle- weight title Photo: Tertius Pickard/ Gallo Images

UNDER-appreciated South African middleweight champion Christopher Buthelezi will finally be involved in his second non-title international bout in Durban on June 16, promoter Thulani Magudulela has confirmed.

It has been almost 11 years since the battle-scarred 43-year-old from Lamontville in Durban last fought a foreign foe, losing on points to Rick Thornberry in Queensland, Australia, on May 3 2003.

At that time he was based in Johannesburg under trainer Nick Durandt.

Having failed to win both the national junior middleweight and super middleweight belts, Buthelezi went back home, where he teamed up with trainer Zwilenkosi Magudulela.

The promoter's son eventually guided the boxer to the SA middleweight strap in 2011 in KwaMashu, Durban.

Buthelezi is fresh from a lopsided points win in his second defence against Giovanni Bushby in Durban two weekends ago.

The veteran of 37 fights overwhelmed the novice of only seven fights with ring generalship. That fight was also staged by Magudulela but at the ICC in Durban.

The promoter said negotiations with Buthelezi's opponent were at an advanced stage.

"For now I can only confirm that Christopher will be involved in a 10-rounder against a boxer from outside South Africa," he said.

Buthelezi remains an enigma in South Africa, probably because he fights so seldom. That worries his trainer. Buthelezi idled without action throughout 2012, and fought only once last year, defeating Makhosonke Zwengu in East London on October 13.

"Christopher is not getting younger; his skills are deteriorating and legs are going," said the trainer about the fourth-oldest active professional in the local fistic sport. Others are Francois Botha and Anton Nel (both 45) and Hein van Bosch, 44.

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