Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

A war is on the cards on Sunday when former gym mates Zolani Tete and Xolani Ntese clash for the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) flyweight title.

Neither fighter wants his clean slate to be tainted, especially Tete who wants to retain the belt he won against Vicky Tahumil last year.

The vastly experienced Indonesian, who had 33 wins, a loss and two draws then, took off his gloves after the third round, claiming that he had been head-butted.

Tete, whose immense fighting prowess is still honed by Dudu Bungu at Eyethu Boxing Gym in Mdantsane, boasts eight knockouts from as many fights while Ntese, who joined Manny Fernandez in Gauteng last August, has flattened six of his nine victims.

Connoisseurs will concur that this showdown, which will be staged by Mzimase Mnguni of Eyethu Boxing Promotions, at the Orient Theatre in East London, will be an experiment that will ultimately give a clearer picture about Tete and Ntese's future in the fight game.

The gladiators have exhibited skill, power and determination. Assumptions are that bopth fighters have a bright future.

But one of them will still a march forward as the winner after Sunday.

Their fight will take place at the venue where some boxing careers ended.

Bungu's career as a boxer ended there in 1996 after being defeated by Zolile Mbityi for the national flyweight belt.

Admission is R50 at the door. The six-bout programme will be broadcast live by SuperSport from 2pm.