Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Isaac Hlatswayo should stamp his authority as the IBO welterweight belt holder against Robert Medley at the Croatian Club in Punchbowl, New South Wales, Australia, today.

They will be meeting for the second time. The "Angel" from Shisasi village in Limpopo settled for a hard-fought, albeit convincing 12-round decision at the Panthers Leagues Club, Penrith, also in Australia, in November.

It was his first defence since winning the belt against Joseph "Smokin' Joe" Makaringe at Emperors Palace last May.

Hlatswayo left for Australia a week ago with assistant trainer Kenny Mabunda because chief trainer Nick Durandt had to be in the corner of Tshepo Lefele, who failed to wrest the WBC International strawweight belt from Zukisani Kwayiba at the Carousel Resort in Hammanskraal last Friday night.

But Durandt will be in the corner this afternoon.

According to Golden Gloves Promotions (GGP) fight publicist Terry Pettifer, Hlatswayo "is ready to knock Medley out".

But the 26-year-old challenger, who holds both the IBO Inter-Continental and IBF Australasian belts, has never been stopped in his young career, which spans five years.

In fact, he tasted defeat against Hlatswayo.

Medley, a stand-up boxer with average skills, has 19 wins (13 KOs) from 20 fights while the tough-as-nails Hlatswayo, who has a big heart as a boxer, has 27 victories (nine KOs), a loss and a no contest.

Meanwhile, South African light heavyweight champion Daniel Bruwer (17 wins, a loss and a draw) will fight Komgrit Nanakorn, 36, a palooka from Thailand, who has five losses from as many fights, over eight rounds.

These fights will be promoted jointly by Golden Gloves Promotions boss Rodney Berman and Josh King.