WBC CONFIRMS SIMANGELE HADEBE FIGHT IN MEXICO
World Boxing Council (WBC) Vice-President Houcine Houichi has confirmed April’s WBC Silver flyweight title fight between South Africa’s Simangele “Smash”Hadebe (14-3-2, 5 KOs) and Mexico’s Gabriel “La Bonita” Sanchez (11-6-0, 1KO).
“Gabriela Sanchez vs Simangele Hadede is confirmed for April 5th, 2025, in Puebla (Mexico) and promoted by Latin KO Promotions. It’s for the Silver flyweight title,” Houichi, who is also the Africa Boxing Union President, told boxersworld.co.ke
Hadebe’s manager Colleen McAusland is so happy finally her boxer is vying for the WBC silver flyweight title after previous fights failed to materialise.
“This is a big one for us in our journey to the top, winning this title will change her life and her siblings too,” said McAusland.
An activist for Gender Based Violence (GBV) herself having been a victim in her childhood, Hadebe will maintain her campaign for protection against the girl child and women in Mexico by donning shorts with the stop child abuse logo.
“I’ve gone through this child abuse a painful mental torture so I can’t stop my activism on GBV,” said Hadebe.
Previous attempts for Hadebe to vie for major international titles did not materialise. She was to have fought Gabriela Sanchez for the IBF Intercontinental title last year but she pulled out and was paired against against another Mexican boxer Almer Meraz in 2023 for WBC International flyweight title which also fell through.
Currently ranked number four in the world, Hadebe is looking forward to the big day with a lot of expectations.
“This is what I’ve been waiting for in my devoted ambition to become a world champion, I’m on my way there,” said Hadebe who is the reigning Africa Boxing Union (ABU) and South Africa flyweight champion.
She became the first South Africa female boxer to win the vacant ABU flyweight title in 2022 by beating Tanzania’s Halima Vunjabei, a feat which earned her the Female Boxer of the Year Award. She has twice successfully defended the ABU title against Tanzanian opponents, Stumai Muki and Jesca Mfinanga.
