Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Boxing mentor Boyboy Mpulampula will get a chance tonight to silence those who are skeptical of his ability.

Mpulampula trains Nkosinathi Joyi, Ludumo Galada, Lubabalo Msuthu and Themba Joyi at the Enothole Boxing Gym in Mdantsane.

He will master the corners of his charges at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre where Nkosinathi will defend the IBO mini flyweight title against Lorenzo Trejo, and Galada will defend the WBF featherweight belt against Pedro Navarrete.

Msuthu will oppose Cecilio Santos for the vacant ABU bantamweight title while Themba will challenge Thembelani Maphuma for the SA super flyweight belt. Trejo, Santos and Navarrete are from Mexico.

Nkosinathi will bid for the third defence of the belt he won in 2006 while Galada will attempt the first defence of the strap he won in August.

Nkosinathi is unbeaten after 18 wins (14 KOs), as is Galada after 12 victories (5 KOs).

Trejo, the former WBC Continental Americas champion, boasts 17 knockouts from 30 wins, as well as 16 losses and a draw. Navarrete, the WBC Fecombox super featherweight champion , has 23 wins (12 KOs) from 30 fights.

Msuthu, who has nine wins (8 KOs), two losses and a draw, faces a mammoth task against Santos, a battle-scarred former WBO Latino, IBA and IBF champion who has 22 wins (12 KOs) and nine defeats.

Themba will take a big step up when he challenges Maphuma for the national belt. Themba has not gone over five rounds in his eight fights, winning five by knockout and losing once since he turned professional in 2006.

Maphuma, who won the belt in August, has chalked up 13 victories (4 KOs) from 19 fights.

But despite Nkosinathi, Galada, Msuthu and Themba's successes, Mpulampula still has to convince sceptics.

Meanwhile, Myan Solomons has promised to avenge an earlier loss to national heavyweight king Osborne Machimana.

Tonight's fights will be presented by promoter S'Pthatho Handi under the banner of Mamali Promotions.