Navigating his way back to the WBC ratings is what Thulani “Evolution” Mbenge will be embarking on when he faces Leandro Fonseca at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban on Friday.
The baby-faced 29-year-old Argentinian is a credible opponent if he is to be judged by his impressive fight record of 18 wins, nine KOs, a loss and a draw.
Mbenge — who will take on Fonseca over 10 rounds in the welterweight division — has not donned boxing gloves in a competitive match since 2022, when he lost in his bid to win the WBC silver welterweight title against Souleymane Cissokho in France.
Mbenge forfeited his top five rating due to his long layoff.
“Fonseca is rated number 99 in the world, so victory is a must against him,” said the hard-hitting SA champion from Mdantsane whose career is guided in Johannesburg by trainer Sean Smith.
“The dream of challenging for the WBC belt is still very much alive; I am knocking this guy clean out on Friday.”
The former IBO champion has everything going for him — ring generalship, height and power. In 21 wins, 15 came by way of short route, with two losses.
He added: “That guy (Fonseca) can fight. You know that Mexican style of coming forward; I have seen some of his fights. As you know, what you see is not what to expect, but I trained according to what I expect on Friday.”
Mbenge, 32, returns to the venue where he fought his first professional match in the undercard of a WBC cruiserweight elimination fight in 2015.
Mbenge was an outstanding amateur fighter who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014. A year later he introduced himself in the paying ranks with a first-round knockout win against Makhosonke Abrahams
“Boxing followers in KwaZulu-Natal know that I bring action, power and excitement. They love me down there and I have been getting messages saying they will be coming to watch my fight,” he said.
Topping the bill — dubbed Return to Glory by promoter Nomvelo Shezi — will be Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu in an attempt to reclaim the WBC silver cruiserweight belt he forfeited after his loss to then WBC champ Ilunga Junior Makabu in 2022.
Mchunu will welcome Fonseca's countryman Yamil Alberto Peralta Jara in a 12 round fight.
The event will be televised live on SABC Sport 2 at 10pm.
Evolved Mbenge ready to punish Fonseca
'I bring action, power and excitement to the ring'
Image: Veli Nhlapo
Navigating his way back to the WBC ratings is what Thulani “Evolution” Mbenge will be embarking on when he faces Leandro Fonseca at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban on Friday.
The baby-faced 29-year-old Argentinian is a credible opponent if he is to be judged by his impressive fight record of 18 wins, nine KOs, a loss and a draw.
Mbenge — who will take on Fonseca over 10 rounds in the welterweight division — has not donned boxing gloves in a competitive match since 2022, when he lost in his bid to win the WBC silver welterweight title against Souleymane Cissokho in France.
Mbenge forfeited his top five rating due to his long layoff.
“Fonseca is rated number 99 in the world, so victory is a must against him,” said the hard-hitting SA champion from Mdantsane whose career is guided in Johannesburg by trainer Sean Smith.
“The dream of challenging for the WBC belt is still very much alive; I am knocking this guy clean out on Friday.”
The former IBO champion has everything going for him — ring generalship, height and power. In 21 wins, 15 came by way of short route, with two losses.
He added: “That guy (Fonseca) can fight. You know that Mexican style of coming forward; I have seen some of his fights. As you know, what you see is not what to expect, but I trained according to what I expect on Friday.”
Mbenge, 32, returns to the venue where he fought his first professional match in the undercard of a WBC cruiserweight elimination fight in 2015.
Mbenge was an outstanding amateur fighter who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014. A year later he introduced himself in the paying ranks with a first-round knockout win against Makhosonke Abrahams
“Boxing followers in KwaZulu-Natal know that I bring action, power and excitement. They love me down there and I have been getting messages saying they will be coming to watch my fight,” he said.
Topping the bill — dubbed Return to Glory by promoter Nomvelo Shezi — will be Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu in an attempt to reclaim the WBC silver cruiserweight belt he forfeited after his loss to then WBC champ Ilunga Junior Makabu in 2022.
Mchunu will welcome Fonseca's countryman Yamil Alberto Peralta Jara in a 12 round fight.
The event will be televised live on SABC Sport 2 at 10pm.
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