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Mbenge vows to dethrone Ness

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Thulani Mbenge and Shaun Ness will trade punches at Emperors Palace. (Lee Warren, Gallo Images)
Thulani Mbenge and Shaun Ness will trade punches at Emperors Palace. (Lee Warren, Gallo Images)

Johannesburg - Thulani Mbenge has vowed to add a 10th win to his unbeaten professional record by clinching the South African welterweight title when he challenges Shaun Ness at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, on Sunday afternoon.

The Eastern Cape-based Mbenge has won nine fights since turning professional two years ago.

Defending champion Ness has had 10 victories, one loss and two draws in 13 bouts.

Average fighter

Mbenge is so confident about his current run as a prized fighter that he believes a new champion will be crowned on Sunday.

“With only nine wins in my small record, it will be nice to register a 10th victory in style by lifting the South African title. This will be something very special for me,” said Mbenge, who also holds the African Boxing Union title.

He said he had seen Ness in action in all his fights and believed the title holder was just an average fighter.

“The time has come for Shaun to hand the belt to me. He has fought nobodies as a prized fighter, and I’m going to end his reign by knocking him out.”

Mbenge, who is trained by Shaun Smith, registered a six-round technical knockout win over Ntuthuko Memela at Emperors Palace in February.

But Ness said he would not allow his belt to be taken away.

Life will improve

“Mbenge is just a loudmouth and I will knock him out. I’m fit and ready to defend my title successfully,” he said.

Ness won the then vacant crown by beating Anelisa Gungqisa by a unanimous points decision at Nangoza Jebe Hall in Port Elizabeth in 2015. He defended the title against Ayanda Mthembu, whom he also outpointed, at Emperors Palace in July.

The Golden Gloves bill will have five more bouts.

Meanwhile, Mzuvukile Magwaca hopes that his life will improve now that he has won the World Boxing Federation (WBF) bantamweight title.

The Duncan Village-born fighter beat Filipino Jason Canoy by a split points decision to win the crown at Oliver Tambo Sports Centre in Khayelitsha last month.

Magwaca lost his World Boxing Association bantamweight title because he did not defend it for more than nine months.

“My lifestyle took a heavy knock as I experienced financial problems after losing my belt – I couldn’t get fights. Now that I’ve won the WBF belt, things will hopefully go well for me as I will be in action regularly,” said Magwaca.

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