Duo take shot at continental title
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 25, 2020 14:42
Babui will get his second shot at the title after losing to former champion, Tholumusa ‘Mfundisi’ Ngema of South Africa through a unanimous decision in May last year.
The boxer was set to have a rematch in November 2019, but the fight failed to materialise due to lack of sponsorship. Former amateur boxing sensation, Mothibedi will make his debut in an international title fight.
The duo is scheduled to square off on November 27 for the now vacant WBF Africa Junior Featherweight title. The title as per WBF rules and regulations became vacant after Ngema’s hold elapsed after six months. He has now moved to the bantamweight.
“It has been a long time coming for me to have another shot at the title. I was to fight last year, but things did not go as planned. We tried to set up this fight earlier this year, but due to COVID-19, we could not,” Babui told Mmegi Sport this week.
“I am happy and very confident about this fight because last time I fought a very experienced boxer and lost by just a point. I am not underestimating my opponent, but I think I am better positioned to win this one.”
Babui would be returning to the ring in more than a year and said his preparations have been affected by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
“It has been a very hard time for me. You have to fight to make money, but I have never had a bout in more than 12 months now. Everything got messed [up]. I have been broke. I wished to have at least an eight-round bout before the title fight, but I failed. I am preparing well, but I can say I never really had the best support in the past very challenging months, but has pushed me to work even harder for this one,” Babui said.
Both Babui and Mothibedi are in line to be the country’s first ever-international professional boxing champion.
The duo is the third and fourth local boxers to have a shot at an international title after Leslie Sekotswe failed to clinch IBF Bantamweight title against Namibian, Immanuel Naidjala six years ago and Steven ‘Small’ Bagwasi losing to South Africa’s Ayanda ‘Greyhound’ Nkosi, for the WBA Pan African Lightweight title in December 2018.