Only female officials will handle the three women's championship bouts - a world title and two local ones - at Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre on August 28, boxing promoter Tando Zonke announced yesterday.

The Mdantsane businessman, who trades under the banner of TZ Boxing Promotion, told Sowetan he was doing this as part of Women's Month celebrations.

"We, the boxing fraternity, must give women the same treatment afforded to their male counterparts, not only as fighters but as officials too," said Zonke.

"We have capable female officials in this country, so let the sisters do it for themselves. The celebration of Women's Month happens only once in the year. There is no need to cry."

Boxing South Africa chairperson Muditambi Ravele, the first female boss of the governing body, said: "This is an exciting initiative which is part of our plan for this month.

"We will give Tando our support and blessings. We actually want to expose the level of female participation in boxing and also encourage more girls to participate in the sport as fighters. We also acknowledge the recognition of Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula on women's boxing."

SA is the first African state to produce a female world boxing champ, Noni "She Bee Stingin" Tenge, who captured the IBF welterweight belt in 2011.

The main bout will be an IBO junior bantamweight title fight between Sharadene "Shinzo" Fortuin and Maria "Chiqui" Rivera of Argentina.

The main undercard pits SA junior flyweight holder Nozwelethu Mathonsi against Bongiwe Seyisi, while Asandiswa Nxokwana will defend her SA featherweight title against Unathi Myekeni.

In the male section, Thembelani Nxoshe will meet Rene Daquer, of the Philippines, for the IBO international bantamweight belt.