Yanga Sigqibo putting pen to paper to sign to fight Ricardo Malajika continues a trend that dates to the 1970s with great South African match-ups.
It began with the big men like Gerrie Coetzee, Mike Schutte and Kallie Knoetze, continued in the 1990s with Corrie Sanders, Johanny du Plooy and Pierre Coetzer and followed thereafter with the small men of SA boxing. Baby Jake Matlala, Hawk Makepula, Cassius Baloyi and Phillip Ndou all engaged in crosstown rivalries that ensured SA boxing was constantly on the boil.
More recently, Hekkie Budler, Simpiwe Konkco and Siyabonga Siyo all produced cracking fights that reaffirmed the maxim that “local is lekker”.
Inevitably, these contests produced high-quality action superior to anything foreign visitors could bring and fans revelled in the heated showdowns.
Currently, several fights suggest themselves as match-ups South Africans would especially enjoy seeing.
ROARKE KNAPP v BRANDON THYSSE III
The colourful junior-middleweights have split a pair of fights, having since gone in vastly different directions.
Knapp may need a fight to rebuild following his recent knockout defeat, while Thysse looked in superb form against Darrin Rossouw recently.
They both enjoy firm followings and both can punch. Given what came before, a mini-classic could ensue.
RICARDO MALAJIKA v JACKSON CHAUKE
Malajika is the coming man, but even at the age of 39 Chauke is a live dog.
Chauke recently won the IBO flyweight title and in a fascinating career dating 16 years, has lost just twice. He’s the consummate pro, always fit and still firing under trainer Damien Durandt.
A hometown fight against Malajika would create massive buzz. Malajika has youth and speed on his side, plus he’s moved up a level since winning the IBO light-flyweight belt.
This one might be more tactical than a tear-up, but aficionados would cheer.
CHRIS THOMPSON v SHAUN POTGIETER
Hide the women and children.
Thompson against Potgieter wouldn’t be pretty, but it would be fun.
Battle-hardened Thompson has been in several wars, few of them dull, and come out the other side looking for more.
He’d find an agreeable heavyweight opponent in Potgieter, who is more rugged than he appears and will come on strong.
RICARDO MALAJIKA v PHUMELELE CAFU
Phumelele Cafu may be the best SA boxer you’ve never heard of. Anyone who can outbox Jackson Chauke, as he did in 2022, has much going for him.
Unusually for a super-flyweight, he has better than average power – and knows how to use it.
He’d need it, too, against Malajika, whose speed and skill make him a dangerous opponent. Although they aren’t strictly in the same weight division, they could split the difference and fight at catchweight.
ROARKE KNAPP v SHERVANTAIGH KOOPMAN
Don’t hold your breath on Knapp versus Koopman happening any time soon.
The two are pals, stablemates and sparring partners.
But stranger things have happened and promoter Rodney Berman may let this one percolate for two or three more years before it becomes inevitable.
All-action Knapp would have to keep his hands up against the sharp-shooting assassin in Koopman. Equally, Knapp’s in-your-face style might put Koopman under the sort of pressure he least enjoys.
BEAVEN SIBANDA v SIYA KUSE
Sibanda makes this list because he’s based here and fights out of Emperors Palace.
Southpaw Kuse has boxed quietly out of the Eastern Cape and continues to make rapid improvement. Boxrec ranks him at number 10, which gives some idea of his quality, plus he’s known for his fierce gym wars.
Sibanda, via Zimbabwe, is an exciting little fighter who picks his punches and has a fantastic workrate that has proved unassailable thusfar.
This would be a high-class, high-volume affair with little to choose between the two.
KEVIN LERENA V MARTIN BAKOLE
Another top fight using the cheat code, but DRC’s Bakole gets the nod because he’s fought in SA previously, and is the brother of SA-based Junior Makabu.
Bakole would be an ideal opponent for Lerena, who has been flitting between bridgerweight and heavyweight. Although he’s big, Bakole is cumbersome and can be outboxed, as we saw against Michael Hunter, like Lerena a small heavyweight, who dominated and outboxed Bakole.
Bakole’s size wouldn’t necessarily trouble Lerena, whose movement and fast hands can neutralise bigger, slower men.
DON JUAN VAN HEERDEN v ASEMAHLE WELLEM
A member of the Van Heerden fighting clan, the power-punching Don Juan is an entertaining middleweight due a step up in opposition.
Although he’d have to venture out of his natural division, he’d find a willing dance partner in Asemahle Wellem, the SA super-middleweight champion who fights out of East London.
It would be Van Heerden’s fury against Wellem’s finesse, a sure winner for local fight fans.
