A delayed dream is virtually becoming a reality for SA female boxing champion Bukiwe "Anaconda" Nonina.

This 24-year-old - the first in the history of local female professional boxing to own the championship belt - has been afforded an opportunity to add a world title to her collection.

The reigning bantamweight queen will challenge WBF holder Alesia Graf from Germany in Cape Town.

The world championship will take place in Khayelitsha on March 31.

The event will also feature local rising male boxing star Mzuvukile "Old Bones" Magwaca who will welcome Jason Canoy from the Philippines for a vacant WBF bantamweight belt.

Nonina's trainer Immanuel Neluoende said his charge was supposed to have challenged Graf last year but the fight did not materialise due to unforeseen reasons.

"We had agreed verbally to face Graf and hard work had already been done in the gym. All what we were waiting for was the fight contract, which did not come and Bukiwe was disturbed," said Neluoende yesterday.

"But I kept reminding her that everything happens for a reason, and if she was meant to face Graf it will happen. Here we are; the fight contract has been signed and we are excited. This great opportunity comes when we are on cloud nine celebrating our nomination for the BSA female boxer of the year award."

BSA's awards ceremony will take place at Durban's ICC on Friday night.

"Our dreams of winning a world title is becoming a reality. We will make sure that we make ourselves and South Africans very proud by winning the title."

Nonina has 10 wins, three losses and a draw, while Graf has 29 wins from 34 bouts.

The champion from Stuttgart has held the Global Boxing Union, Women's International Boxing Association junior bantam, WBC International bantamweight and WBF junior featherweight belts.

WBF president Howard Goldberg warned: "I hope I am wrong but I fear both South Africans could get knocked out. Such is the quality of their opposition."