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Johannesburg - The Eastern Cape’s reigning International Boxing Organisation World female bantamweight champion, Sharadene “Shinzo” Fortuin, believes a victory against Uruguayan Gabriela “La Gaby” Bouvier will bring her a step closer to her dream of owning a World Boxing Association (WBA) crown.
The former South African bantamweight title holder will face Bouvier at the Mdantsane Indoor Sport Centre in East London on December 2 for the vacant WBA world bantamweight belt.
The gladiators will top a seven-bout tournament presented by Thando Zonke’s TZ Boxing Promotions.
The highly motivated fighter from Seymour in the Eastern Cape, who will step into the ring after straight victories, said a win would propel her towards her long-held dream of fighting for the WBA world title.
“This fight is very important to me and a victory is vital,” she said.
“Since I started boxing, it has been my dream to put the WBA world belt around my waist, and a win will [bring me] a step closer to that goal.”
The 22-year-old rising star said she would do everything she could to grab the rare opportunity.
“My preparations have been going well. Come fight day, I will be ready for my opponent. I intend to do everything in my power to be victorious that night,” Fortuin said.
“Such opportunities don’t come every day, and when you get them, you need to grab them with both hands.”
She said her opponent’s experience did not give her sleepless nights.
“I don’t know much about her, except [for] her record, but her experience does not scare me because it’s just a number of fights.”
Fortuin has won six of her assignments, with a single defeat. Her seasoned foe, who will be shaking off more than a year of ring rustiness, has 12 victories, two losses and one draw in 15 fights.
