Tough talk to ignite bout
Eastern Cape rivals set to go toe-to-toe in high-stakes rematch
When amateur and Eastern Cape rivals Sikho Nqothole and Sabelo Ngebiyana fought in Swaziland last November, the feeling was the bout should have been held back at home.
Ngebiyana scored a surprising points win to claim the WBA Pan-African junior-bantamweight crown and inflict the first professional loss to his Mthatha-born rival.
With interest piqued the duo will clash in a rematch at Orient Theatre on Sunday with the stakes so much higher than the first fight.
This is even though Ngebiyana, who is from Komani but based in Johannesburg, left the venue shaking in disbelief the last time he fought there.
This after he was adjudged the loser to Duncan Village star Yanga Sigqibo for the SA junior-bantamweight title challenge.
Now he will get an opportunity to right the wrongs when he faces Nqothole with two titles now up for grabs.
“I know Sikho. We fought in the amateurs and he won but I beat him at the professional ranks and got the better of him,” said Ngebiyana. “I have no doubt that I will beat him again and if we fight again, I will still beat him.”
Besides the national title that eluded him with his unfortunate loss to Sigqibo, the left-handed aggressive Ngebiyana will also stand to win the Legends Boxing Federation (LBF) international crown.
But Nqothole has no doubt that this time the tables will be turned.
Shortly after their first fight in Swaziland, Nqothole told this scribe that he would be pursuing a rematch.
The offer to Ngebiyana was made within a week of their first fight but it was turned down.
“He did not want to take the rematch when we first proposed it. Fortunately it so happened that we have the same promoter [Xaba Promotions] so it was easy to make him change his mind.”
The 24-year-old Nqothole’s boxing career is well documented with the boxer revealing that he was in the game to change his life and build a house for his family. Asked if an immediate rematch could not turn pear-shaped if he loses, he said: “The thing is I am not interested in any other fight until I sort this out. Then I can continue with my goals to win a world title.”
The fight will top a XP show featuring the highly anticipated crossroads clash between veteran Ali Funeka and rookie Uyanda Nogogo. It starts at 2pm.
I know Sikho, we fought in the amateurs and he won but I beat him at the professional ranks. I will beat him again