Veteran female boxer Monalisa “Queen of the Jungle” Sibanda has promised fireworks ahead of her African Boxing Union (ABU) middleweight title showdown against Mapule Ngubane of South Africa on Saturday.
The Sugarboy Malinga Boxing Stable-promoted bout takes place at the Donga La Boutique Hotel, Ladysmith in KwaZulu Natal.
Sibanda was originally scheduled to fight for the Women’s International Boxing Association lightweight world title against German Alicia Kummer this weekend but that fight has been shelved.
The postponement has paved the way for the Mabvuku-bred fighter to go for the ABU belt against the highly-rated Ngubane.
The 40-year-old said she was eager to win the continental piece which could leave her in a position to challenge for World Boxing Council (WBC) belts given the ABU is a subsidiary of the Number One ranked board on the planet.
Monalisa Sibanda spoke to The Herald:
As you know, I was supposed to be fighting Alicia Kummer of Germany for the WIBA world title this weekend, that fight has been shelved but I am still in it.
But, before I can plunge into that battle, I have an immediate task which is of paramount importance.
I am going to battle it out for the ABU title against Ngubane in South Africa on Saturday. This is a big step in my boxing career and I am looking forward to doing very well in this fight.
I know I stand a very good chance of winning this bout. I have been training very hard eyeing for the WIBA world title so I am in very good shape mentally and physically.
I have been working with different trainers including Kyokushin guru Samson Muripo. I am going to throw everything into this fight.
Remember ABU is a subsidiary of the WBC and I know should I prevail; I stand a very good chance of having a go at the WBC.
I have been a fighter over the past 31 years having been the first female professional boxer in this country and I have always been dreaming of winning the ABU title.
And here is the chance. I am going to do most of the talking the ring on Saturday.
Sibanda’s fight will be the main bout of the eight duels lined up to honour South Africa’s boxing legend Thulani ‘’Sugar Boy’’ Malinga.
The two-time WBC champion’s daughter, Nomfundo, is the brains behind the tournament with the budding promoter saying she wants to honour her father while she is still alive.
The fight comes as another Zimbabwean female boxer Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire is still soul-searching following her defeat by Mexican Yamileth Mercado in a World Boxing Council super-bantamweight title showdown last weekend.