SOUTH AFRICA’S HADEBE BACK IN ACTION TO CONTEND FOR WBO AFRICA TITLE AGAINST NIGERIAN
▪️ Simangele Hadebe and Nigeria’s Olamiposi Kehinde will vie for WBO Africa flyweight title in Johannesburg
South Africa’s most successful female professional boxer, Simangele “Smash” Hadebe (14-4-2, 5 KOs), returns to the ring on Friday, September 26, to take on Nigeria’s unbeaten Olamiposi Kehinde (7-0-1) for the WBO Africa female flyweight title at the Kagiso Memorial & Recreation Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
It’s the first time female boxers are vying for the WBO Africa flyweight title in the six-bout card promoted jointly by Thanya Promotions in collaboration with Honeybee, Zbashy and Xaba Promotions.
In addition to the main fight featuring Hadebe vs Kehinde, the other title bout is between South African boxers, Nozwelethu Mathontsi vs Asanda Simelane, both of whom will vie for WBO Africa female junior flyweight belt.
Initially Hadebe and Kehinde were to contest for WBC Africa title but it was changed to WBO.
“The sanction fee for the WBC Africa belt was too expensive for us,” fast-rising promoter Thanyani Marageni told boxersworld.co.ke from Johannesburg in a telephone interview.
Hadebe is coming off a points defeat to Mexico’s Gabriela “La Bonita” Sanchez in Mexico in April.
She had challenged the Mexican for her World Boxing Council Silver flyweight title. After a fine start, breaking Sanchez’ nose in the second round, the home girl eventually overwhelmed the South African boxer to retain her title on points victory at the Ignacio Zamora Stadium in Puebla, Mexico.
That’s now water under the bridge as Hadebe and her manager Colleen McAusland, who has managed Hadebe since 2018, are now focused on the WBO African belt.
McAusland is upbeat on Hadebe’s eight-round bout with the Nigerian.
“Smash is a world class fighter, the WBO Africa title will help her climb up in ranking again,” said McAusland.
“Smash was ranked third by Boxrec but losing to Sanchez in Mexico took her down to 9th. I’m confident Smash will get back to the top three again to fight for a world title if given the opportunities in South Africa.”
Commenting on the fight, Smash, who turned pro in 2016 without boxing as an amateur, said she’s looking forward to a resounding victory.
“History is being made, for the first time two female boxers vying for the WBO Africa title,” the 31-year-old Hadebe told boxersworld.co.ke.
“I’m very excited as well as humbled, honoured, and happy at the same time. This can only be the first of many.
“I don’t know much about my Nigerian opponent, but I do know that she’s unbeaten and she’s southpaw. The rest will be in the ring. I’m definitely confident of winning this WBO Africa title with my home supporters behind me.
“I’m a very patient person, and I do know and believe that everything happens at the right time, not the time that I want it to happen. I need more opportunities to fight in my country to prove to South Africans that I can be and will be a world champion given the opportunity.”
Hadebe, the reigning South African and ABU flyweight champion, believes the best is yet to come.
“I want to achieve more than what I’ve achieved at this stage in my life. And I do know I’m capable to own more titles than I have now.”
For promoter Thanya, her second promotion offers her another opportunity to show her managerial capacity as she aims to become one of the best South African female promoters.
“We female promoters have the capability to rise to the top but our main challenge is lack of sponsors, I call upon corporates in South Africa to give us all the support we need because we’re also creating opportunities for our boxers to make a living through pro boxing.”
We wish Thanya and her co-promoters plus the boxers all the best in Friday’s card.
