Chauke and Matyhila are back
by Ron Jackson 12 June 2012, 20:52
Former SA junior featherweight champion Oscar Chauke will be back in the ring on June 26.
And SA bantamweight champion Phumzile Matyhila is also on the comeback trail.
Chauke is scheduled to face Themba Lesiba in a box-and-dine tournament at Gold Reef City, west of Johannesburg.
It will be his first fight since he lost on a split decision to Jeffrey Mathebula in an IBF title fight eliminator on June 11 last year.
The tournament is presented by Chauke’s manager and trainer, Manny Fernandes, who is going all out to keep his fighters active.
The 31-year-old Chauke has been fighting as a professional for more than 12 years. If he beats Lesiba, who is ranked No 3 by Boxing SA, he will try to regain the SA title that he relinquished when he won the World Boxing Foundation junior featherweight belt in November 2007.
The SA title is held by Macbute Sinyabi, who recently lost to Thangthong Kiattaweesuk in an IBF eliminator.
Lesiba has a reported record of 10-2; 5. He made his professional debut in June 2007 when he beat Shadrack Molekwa on points over four rounds.
He remained unbeaten in eight fights before he was stopped in the sixth round by Macbute Sinyabi in May 2010 in a challenge for the national junior featherweight title.
Lesiba then lost on points to Tello Dithebe but went on to beat Johannes Nthontho, Sabelo Nokhele and Dumisani Tose, all by knockout.
Other bouts on the bill: Junior middleweight: Sylvester Zaki v Theo Mpakane, 6 rounds; Dowayne Combrink v Andile Nomala and Zan Jonker v Master Mangaladza, both 4 rounds.
Welterweight: Kyle Smith v Goodman Zanempi and Zane Mundell v Jermiah Joshua, both 4 rounds.
Featherweight: Thembani Hobanyani v Nkosinathi Ntshangase, 4 rounds
Middleweight: Walter Dlamini v Plumza Nduvheni, 4 rounds.
MATYHILE TO DEFEND HIS TITLE
SA bantamweight champion Phumzile Matyhila will also make a welcome return to the ring later this month.
The 36-year-old Matyhila, from Mdantsane, returns to action after a long absence when he defends his title against Toto Helebe at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday June 24.
Matyhile represented South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2000 Olympics Games in Sydney.
In his first two title defences, he beat Ntobela Duma on points and stopped Cleutus Mbhele in the ninth round.
Helebe is from Gugulethu near Cape Town.
The tournament is presented by Koko Godlo's KK Productions.
Josias Maphepha, of Limpopo Boxing Promotions, will present a tournament, in partnership with the Lepelle Nkumpim municipality, on June 23.
Maphepha want to put on a series of small development tournaments in the province where world champions such as Cassius Baloyi, Phillip Ndou, Isaac Hlatshwayo and Jeffrey Mathebula learnt their trade.
