South African bantamweight champion Simphiwe Vetyeka will make his debut under the Branco Sports Production (BSP) fold when he defends his title for the sixth time against Free Stater Ebenezer Tumane at Banquet Hall in Klerksdorp on Friday.
South African bantamweight champion Simphiwe Vetyeka will make his debut under the Branco Sports Production (BSP) fold when he defends his title for the sixth time against Free Stater Ebenezer Tumane at Banquet Hall in Klerksdorp on Friday.
The bout will be the undercard to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior lightweight title clash between reigning champion Mzonke Fana and Argentine challenger Javier Alvarez.
Vetyeka, who has not fought since losing a WBC bantamweight title challenge to Japanese fighter Hozumi Hasegawa in May, is looking to get back into world title contention.
However, after his defeat by Hasegawa, he slid down the WBC ratings to 12th spot.
BSP boss Branco Milenkovic wanted Vetyeka to defend his crown against former SA junior flyweight champion Vuyisile Bebe, but Bebe's camp turned down the fight.
Though his challenge against Hasegawa was engineered by Milenkovic, Vetyeka has not yet fought under the BSP banner since joining the promoter last year.
"He was fortunate that he immediately got a world title crack even before officially announcing himself to the BSP," Milenkovic said.
The talented, yet often lethargic fighter, whose loss to Hasegawa was his first in 17 professional bouts, is favoured to beat Tumane who, in essence, has no business being in the same ring as the champion.
Tumane has lost 12 and drawn two of his 28 bouts with only 14 victories. - Sapa
Vetyeka in defence
South African bantamweight champion Simphiwe Vetyeka will make his debut under the Branco Sports Production (BSP) fold when he defends his title for the sixth time against Free Stater Ebenezer Tumane at Banquet Hall in Klerksdorp on Friday.
South African bantamweight champion Simphiwe Vetyeka will make his debut under the Branco Sports Production (BSP) fold when he defends his title for the sixth time against Free Stater Ebenezer Tumane at Banquet Hall in Klerksdorp on Friday.
The bout will be the undercard to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior lightweight title clash between reigning champion Mzonke Fana and Argentine challenger Javier Alvarez.
Vetyeka, who has not fought since losing a WBC bantamweight title challenge to Japanese fighter Hozumi Hasegawa in May, is looking to get back into world title contention.
However, after his defeat by Hasegawa, he slid down the WBC ratings to 12th spot.
BSP boss Branco Milenkovic wanted Vetyeka to defend his crown against former SA junior flyweight champion Vuyisile Bebe, but Bebe's camp turned down the fight.
Though his challenge against Hasegawa was engineered by Milenkovic, Vetyeka has not yet fought under the BSP banner since joining the promoter last year.
"He was fortunate that he immediately got a world title crack even before officially announcing himself to the BSP," Milenkovic said.
The talented, yet often lethargic fighter, whose loss to Hasegawa was his first in 17 professional bouts, is favoured to beat Tumane who, in essence, has no business being in the same ring as the champion.
Tumane has lost 12 and drawn two of his 28 bouts with only 14 victories. - Sapa