Its been a long time coming, almost exactly a year, but World Boxing Federation (WBF) All Africa Welterweight Champion Antonio Mayala is finally set to make his first title-defense on Friday June 29 against Benoit Makangila Vela at the Mistico Equestrian Center in Paarl, South Africa.
The fight will be one of two WBF championship fights on Kalakoda Promotions “Seek & Destroy” bill, televised live by Kwesé Sports. In the main event, Knife Didier and Vladyslav Sirenko square off for the vacant WBF International Heavyweight title.
Cape Town-based Mayala, 9-3 (6), the first ever WBF Champion born in Angola, stopped Jarred Silverman in nine rounds last June to win the title. In undefeated IBF Continental Africa titlist Makangila Vela, 14-0-1 (7), from D.R. Congo, he is facing his best opponent to date.
Knife Didier, another D.R. Congo warrior, will get his second crack at a WBF title, following a spirited decision-loss in January to All Africa ruler Elvis Moyo in Zimbabwe. Boxing out of South A frica his entire career, he will now be on home-turf against Ukrainian Vladyslav Sirenko.
Didier brings a record of 6-3 (5), while Sirenko, fighting for the sixth time in South Africa, is undefeated at 7-0 (6). With twelve of thirteen victories between them coming inside the distance, this one promises fireworks from the get-go.
Also in South Africa the following day, on Saturday June 30 at the Turffontein Racecource in Gauteng, local girl Simangele Hadebe, 4-1-2 (1), takes on Malawian Ellen Simwaka, 6-3-2 (4), for the third time, this time with the vacant WBF Women’s International Bantamweight title on the line.
Hadebe won the first encounter on points over eight rounds in September of 2017, but last May 25 in Johannesburg the pair fought to a ten round draw in the rematch. So now it is time to settle the score with the winner emerging as WBF champion.
The bout will headline a show promoted by Boxing 5 Promotions.
