Port Elizabeth’s finest woman boxer, Nozipho Bell, says she is roaring and ready to rumble despite being 1kg over the required weight for her World Boxing Federation featherweight fight at Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton on Friday.
The 29-year-old South African junior lightweight champion will be fighting defending champ Unathi Myekeni for her WBF belt in the All Women Boxing event.
At the pre-medical check at the hall on Tuesday, Bell tipped the scales at 58kg, almost a kilogramme more than the 57.15kg weight limit.
Meanwhile, her opponent Myekeni weighed in at 56.50kg.
There was no concern from the Bell camp as she was within the required limit for the pre-medical.
She still has a day to make the weight ahead of the official weigh-in, which will take place at Nangoza Jebe on Thursday at noon.
“I am happy with my weight today because I still have time to drop one kilogramme and make the weight.
“I am ready for the fight, mentally and physically,” Bell said.
Her trainer, Caiphus Ntante, said: “The weight is not any issue for us.
“This is how we normally prepare for a fight.
“Come weigh-in on Thursday, we will make the weight.
“Because the fight is around the corner, the plan now is to just make the weight.
“The only way to do so is working on the skipping rope, shadow boxing and jumping, that is all.”
Ntante said they would have their last training session on Wednesday.
Myekeni is in East London preparing for the fight and will be making her way to Port Elizabeth for the official weigh-in on Thursday.
Trainer Mlandeli Thengimfene said: “She under-weighed today.
“She weighed 56.50kg, so health-wise she is fine and ready for Friday.
“We are coming there to defend our title because that is our bread and butter, we cannot afford to lose the belt.”
The All Women Boxing event will feature Myekeni versus Bell as the main bout with Melissa Miller taking on Thema Zuma in the supporting fight.
Other fights will be between Nomampondomise Xotyeni and Nompumelelo Sibiya and Raizel Mohamed and Nomazithini Ntyambo.
Promoter Mbali Zantsi, of Zantsi Showtime Production, said everything was on track.
“It’s all systems go and we are ready for the fight.
“All the other boxers indicated that they are ready and the boxers from in and around the Nelson Mandela Bay metro are so excited.
“The people are excited and I am excited too.
“I hope that the municipality will get value for their money,” Zantsi said.