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Bloody battle looming

RUMBLE: Yoshinori Miyata and Jeffrey Mathebula are flanked by the Japanese boxer's trainer, Yoshutami Januka and the Mongoose's manager, Nick Durandt. Holding the WBC international belt is promoter Jacob Matlala . Pic. Mbuzeni Zulu. 18/02/08. © Sowetan.
RUMBLE: Yoshinori Miyata and Jeffrey Mathebula are flanked by the Japanese boxer's trainer, Yoshutami Januka and the Mongoose's manager, Nick Durandt. Holding the WBC international belt is promoter Jacob Matlala . Pic. Mbuzeni Zulu. 18/02/08. © Sowetan.

Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Faint-hearted fight followers must stay away from a boxing match that will feature Jeffrey Mathebula and Japan's Yoshinori Miyata at the Carousel casino in Hammanskraal in North West province on Friday night.

"Ku ta nyiwa (you will sh**)," swore the "Mongoose" in Shangaan yesterday after their pre-fight medical at Boxing SA's offices at Nasrec.

He tipped the scales at 59,78kg while Miyata, the first Japanese fighter to ever visit these shores, weighed 60kg.

The fight will be staged by the Branco Sports Production consortium of Branco Milenkovic and Jacob Matlala. The duo won the Promoter of 2007 award at Boxing SA's yearly awards in Bloemfontein on Friday night.

Mathebula, a former Olympian whose cunning is perfected by Gauteng's esteemed mentor Nick Durandt, will bid for the fourth defence of the World Boxing Council (WBC) International featherweight belt.

"I am as sharp as a razor and I will cut this guy to size in less than eight rounds. I know it sounds weird especially considering that I have not fought since June 29 last year," Mathebula said.

"But I must tell you that sparring sessions in our gym are wars. So there is nothing like being ring rusty. I got quality sparring from Moruti Mthalane and I also sharpened my skills when I helped Takalani Ndlovu for his fight two weeks ago."

Mathebula and Miyata both have 11 knockouts.

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