Tshabalala believes Motlanthe's presence will spur him to victory

Can the presence of former president Kgalema Motlanthe spur SA reigning junior-flyweight boxing champ Mpumelelo “The Boss” Tshabalala to winning the vacant IBO belt against highly rated Argentinian Junior Leandro “The Demon” Zarate at Vodacom Dome in Midrand on August 24?

“I think so,” says promoter Ayanda Matiti, adding that Tshabalala asked him to invite Motlanthe to his box-and-dine event which will be Matiti’s ninth edition to honour Nelson Mandela as an aspirant boxer.

Tshabalala, from Katlehong on the East Rand, said: “I asked the promoter [Matiti] to invite former president Motlanthe to attend this tournament. I know him from watching the news on television. His presence in the tournament will make me happy and it will motivate me to win. It is my dream to see him live because I like him.”

Said Matiti: “All I know is that the former president follows boxing passionately. As his promoter who wants the best for him, I will follow the protocol through the offices of the provincial MEC for sports, arts and culture and that of the premier. You know, there is this thing called dream come true.

“I have seen people of different backgrounds being presented with that opportunity and it changed their lives, so I want to believe that Tshabalala’s dream will be realised when he sees the former president at the ring side.”

Motlanthe is a former footballer. He is said to have played alongside Stanley Mogale, Frank “ABC” Motsepe and Stopper Seopela at Pretoria Spa Sporting.

Tshabalala is rated No 28 by the IBO, 21 by the WBC and 13 by the WBO. He has won 10 of his 11 fights and he also holds the WBO Inter-Continental title.

Tshabalala's career is guided at the JD Boxing Gym of late trainer Jabulani Malinga – whose sons and former national champions Peter, Patrick and Vus'umuzi  are in charge of the establishment which was once home to former SA flyweight, WBU junior-bantamweight and WBC International junior-featherweight titlist Gabula “The Tiger” Vabaza.

The IBO has 34-year-old Zarate ranked No 12, while both the WBC and IBF have placed him in the ninth spot. Zarate is rated No 8 by the WBA while the WBO has him at the No 7 position.

The bout between these highly rated competitors will headline Matiti’s annual celebration of Madiba as a boxer.

In the main supporting fight, reigning SA junior-featherweight king Bongani “Wonder Boy” Mahlangu will put his belt on the line against newcomer Siyabulela Hem.

This bout is a mismatch by boxing standards, but Hem is the mandatory challenger to Mahlangu’s throne. Mahlangu – the oldest active local boxer – won the belt in 2022 at the age of 42.

Trained by his younger brother Sandile Mahlangu, the champion's last defence in September was a seventh-round stoppage of Luthando Mbumbulwana – who surrendered the Eastern Cape provincial title via a seventh-round knockout to Hem in April.

Mahlangu, 45, has 26 wins, 14 by knockouts, against 10 losses, while 20-year-old Hem from the Eastern Cape has six wins, a loss and a draw.

SA and WBO Global bantamweight champ Landle “Man Down” Ngxeke will welcome Genesis Libranza from the Philippines in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental belt while national lightweight title-holder Khaya “Destroyer' Busakwe will oppose Ghanaian Richard Feny in a 10-round contest for the vacant WBA Pan African belt.

Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi aims to resurrect his moribund career with a WBA Pan African junior-bantamweight title against Namibian Immanuel Josef.

Buthelezi, the 38-year-old former IBO junior-bantamweight champion from the Vaal, last fought in 2022 when he was stopped in the first round by Dave Apolinario of the Philippines for the IBO flyweight title in Matiti's tournament back home in East London.

Matiti said action will begin at 2pm.

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