World Boxing Foundation (WBF) president Howard Goldberg has undertaken to assign experienced officials for the much-anticipated clash between Port Elizabeth’s Nozipho Bell and Unathi Myekeni on Friday.
The women boxers clash for Myekeni’s WBF featherweight title at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton and the bout will top Showtime Boxing Promotions’ (SBP) bill, which features 11 fights.
It will be the first bout for Bell since she lost a highly controversial decision to Ewa Brodnicka in a WBO world title challenge in Poland in October.
Bell, who holds the SA junior lightweight title, is the only national champion from Port Elizabeth in both men and women’s categories.
After dominating the SA women’s boxing scene, she has set her sights on the world stage with the bout in Poland presenting her with an opportunity to elevate her career.
But she was undone by Pol- ish officials, prompting her to appeal to the WBF to ensure that experienced judges are assigned on Friday.
“The WBF always prides itself in providing an even playing ground for fighters so on Friday it will be no different,” Goldberg said.
He could not say which officials would be appointed but assured that he would personally attend the fight.
The bout will invoke the rivalry between Port Elizabeth and East London, which used to be fierce.
This was when EP boxers such as Mzukisi Sikali, Vuyani Nene and Phumzile Madikane used to get the better of their East London peers.
Boxing is going through a revival in the metro with several tournaments being lined up.
A week later, unbeaten star Azinga Fuzile will also fight in PE when he defends his IBF intercontinental junior light weight crown against Mexican Romulo Koasicha.
Friday’s show will also see the return of former boxing golden girl Noni Tenge, who is involved in a rematch against Mapule Ngubane in a catchweight clash.
Tenge, a WBF junior middleweight champion, will not be defending her crown, with Goldberg saying it would be a warm-up fight.
“Noni was scheduled to defend her title in Johannesburg this month but the tournament was cancelled through no fault of hers,” Goldberg said.
The third bout will see Mellisa Miller defending her SA bantamweight title against Thema Zuma while PE’s Razel Mohammed will square off against Nomazithini Ndyambo in a junior welterweight scrap.
Also on the cards for this weekend are Sunday’s SA welterweight title fight between Mziwoxolo Ndwayana and Odwa Gaxa and the Eastern Cape title bout featuring Mzwabantu Dabaza and Siphenathi Nobandla.
There will be seven fights staged by NMB Promoters Association in conjunction with the metro and these will be held at the Uitenhage Indoor Sports Arena.