23 March 2009
North West Province continues to stage big and exciting fights. The North
West Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Matlosana Local
Municipality and Branco promotions will host a boxing match for the South
African title on the 27 March 2009, at Matlosana Banquet Hall in
Klerksdorp.
Chris âthe heatâ van Heerden clashes with Welcome Ntshingila for the South
African welterweight title. The 2007 Boxing South Africa âprospect of the yearâ
van Heerden, is coming off a 12th round TKO victory over Page Tshegane, in
which he won the vacant South African title and successfully defended the
African Boxing Union welterweight crown which he won by an eighth round TKO in
a battle with Hassan Saku on July 25, 2008.
Ntshingila who ranked No1 contender is expected to be a tough opponent for
van Heerden. He put on brave effort in losing a twelve round unanimous decision
to
Australian Daniel Dawson in a Pan Asian Boxing Association and a vacant
WBA
Pan African title fight. In his last fight Ntshingila won a six round pointâs
decision over Sicelo Mzobe who had an impressive record of 13 to one with knock
outs. Also on same bill will be a junior middleweight female fight between
Sandra Almeida and Rita Mrwebi on amateur tournament, boxing equipment such as
punching bags, speed balls and gloves will be donated to various boxing
clubs.
"Other provinces should start investing in boxing for the sake of social
development and uplifting the sport as a whole," said Boxing Promoter Branco
"The eliminator" Milenkovic. Branco has appealed to provincial governments who
he says, "have not yet" invested in boxing, to consider going that route for
the sake of development.
âThe provincial government represented by the Department of Sport, Arts
and
Culture is no longer paying lip service as far as development is concern, is
rather implementing the strategy it has been preaching about through sporting
quotes such as boxing, this by introducing clubs around the province. We hope
that our local boxers will be turning professional and earning out of their
sweat,â said MEC Ndleleni Duma.
Milenkovic has recently enjoyed solid relationship with the North West
province, government having held top class fights here involving the likes of
former International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Mzonke Fana, Cassius
Baloyi and Marvin Classen. "We just want to show gratitude for what the
North-West province has contributed in the sport of boxing,â said Branco.
For more information contact:
Shirley Montsho
Cell: 082 345 9525
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, North West Provincial
Government
23 March 2009
Source: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, North West Provincial
Government
(http://www.nwpg.gov.za/dsac/)
