Thema Zuma must brace herself for real war from SA bantamweight champion Melissa "Honey Bee" Miller in Port Elizabeth, warns the 33-year- old single mother.

Miller, a full-time boxer from Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, described the national title as their meal ticket.

Their bout will take place on Saturday at Nangoza Jebe Hall. The Women in Boxing tournament is staged jointly by Showtime Boxing Promotions and the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.

Miller, Boxing SA's 2016 prospect of the year and the first female boxer from Eldorado Park to win a national championship belt, will be making the first defence of the title she won at the Sandton Convention Centre in May last year.

She will face the same opponent she outpointed for the then vacant title.

"This belt is not only my pride but also my meal ticket, which helps me provide for my family.

That is why I will fight until the bitter end to keep it," she said. Having last boxed competitively last July, when she defeated Sindiswa Ncube over eight rounds in Bloemfontein, Miller says she has been looking for action.

"My mum has been helpful a lot with transport money to the gym in Soweto.

She has also been doing a lot for my son," said Miller, who paid tribute to Zantsi for giving her the opportunity to earn some money.

"My aim is to make her proud and not disappoint," said Miller, who is trained by Lucky Ramagole at the Orlando Boxing Club in Soweto.

Miller is the only female boxer in Ramagole's gym. "He takes me out to other gyms for sparring because he does [not] believe in putting a lady against a guy in the ring," she explained.

Topping Zantsi's bill will be Unathi Myekeni defending her WBF featherweight belt against Nozipho Bell. Zantsi, who has spent 20 years in Johannesburg as a promoter, said action will begin at 7pm.