Asanda Gingqi has asserted himself as a real force in the South African featherweight division and has gone on to prove that winning the title against Abdul-Aziz Kunert in September last year was not sheer luck.
He ascended to the throne after his seventh professional fight. He has twice defended his title successfully – stopping Sthembiso Maduna in the 11th round in March and also outpointing Zolile Batyi over 12 rounds in May.
There are six contenders for his title – Jeff Magagane, Thembani Mbangatha, Batyi, Maduna, Kunert and Sange Ngoza. Gqinqi has already dealt with three – Kunert, Maduna and Batyi.
The 29-year-old reigning champion from Mdantsane is now pencilled down for his third defence against Magagane. The showdown will take place in Johannesburg on September 25.
Does the challenger from Soweto, who goes by the nickname “911”, have the tools in his arsenal to defuse the “Dynamite”?
Magagane is up there among the best featherweight fighters when it comes to skills. Only the mental and physical aspect of his game is yet to be tested . He says he knows Ginqgi like the back of his hand.
“We were teammates in the national amateur team in 2013 and 2015. In my last fight in the amateurs in 2015, I fought against him in the semifinals of the SA championships in Eastern Cape. He won on points.
“I have been after his career in the professionals ranks and weaknesses in his game. I know which buttons to press.”
Magagane has been a professional boxer since 2015. A year later, he won the provincial title before adding the WBA Pan African belt to his collection. He has won 15 of his 20 fights but failed to conquer Africa by losing in an African Boxing Union title fight in Namibia. That loss was followed by another but Magagane returned more determined when he registered three wins on the trot. His consistency put him in line to challenge for the national title.
He said it has taken him a lot of time to get to that point because he had to change weight divisions and settle where he felt comfortable. In the featherweight division he is now rated number one.
“There is no weight cutting and that means I retain my power during training. My height also comes into the fore,” said Magagane.
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