GRUDGE fights have always failed to live up to the excitement of the first clashes. Most of them have turned to be rubber matches thus boring fight fans.

GRUDGE fights have always failed to live up to the excitement of the first clashes. Most of them have turned to be rubber matches thus boring fight fans.

But this should not be expected on Saturday between Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilembe and David "Bassaja" Kitooke whose rematch will be at Graceland Casino in Secunda.

Golden Gloves of Rodney Berman has pitted them against each other for the WBO Africa light heavyweight vacant title this time round.

Their first fight was an eight rounder. It was also staged by Berman at Emperors Palace in Ekurhuleni in April last year.

It ended controversially in the last round. They clashed heads accidentally, and Kitooke was cut badly above his left eye. Blood was pouring badly and it blocked his view. Ringside doctor advised that the fight be stopped.

Chilembe, who was ahead on points, was declared a technical knockout winner.

Their verbal sparring yesterday during their pre-fight medical set the tone for a bloody slugfest.

The Harold Volbrecht-trained Kitooke from Uganda was the first to fire his salvo. "What goes around, comes around. I declare war," he said.

His comment angered the always cool Malawian Chilembe.

"I fought and beat you when I was struggling to make the weight at super middleweight. I will fight you in the light heavyweights where I don't have to shed any weight," he said.