One of South Africa’s most iconic boxing venues, Carnival City Big Top Arena, is expected to light up when local and international boxers take to the ring and exchange leather this coming Saturday in Brakpan.
Headlining the night will be Katlego “Kat” Khanyisa and Lucky “Genius” Monyebane, who will battle it out for the vacant IBF Continental Africa junior lightweight title in a thrilling 10-round bout.
Khanyisa is currently ranked number one, while Monyebane sits at number two on Boxing SA’s rankings.
There will also be two international fights taking place, with SA featherweight number two contender Ishmaeel Kadri taking to the ring against Namibia’s Lineekela Nghifindaka for the vacant IBF youth belt.
WBO Global junior bantamweight champion Sikho “Sequence” Noqothole will go toe-to-toe with the Philippines’ Reymark Alicaba in a 10-round international non-title contest.
Other top-tier SA talent and rising stars who will be in action include young prospects Doron Zinman and Josh Feldman – with the latter set to be in action against Siphiwe Ntombela.
Lerato “Lights Out” Dlamini will return to action in a featherweight division, 10-round international contest against Sukpasried Ponphitak of Thailand.
There will also be a potential Africa flyweight title fight between Frank Sotomela and Theo Nxayiphila, while Hamza Hassim will be making his much-anticipated professional debut.
The Carnival City boxing arena is revered for hosting classic fights and icons like the late four-time world boxing champion Jacob “Baby Jake” Matlala.
Baby Jake ended his decorated 22-year career on a winning note in March 2002 at the age of 40 in Carnival City, when he beat Juan Herrera in seven rounds to retain the WBU junior flyweight belt.
After the bout, Matlala did a class act when he awarded his belt to the late struggle fighter and statesman Nelson Mandela, who was in the audience to witness his last fight.
Mandela also happened to be Matlala’s biggest fan.
Matlala sadly passed away in December 2013 at the age of 51. Other Iconic SA boxers that graced the Carnival City boxing ring include Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela, who died in April last year.
