In this year alone Magugwana has been the most active boxer in his weight division post the Covid-19 pandemic in the Northern Cape.
Joe Magugwana, the boxer from Nxumalo Street in Galeshewe’s old Number Two township, believes he’s being set up for a win against Free State Featherweight debutant Khotso Ramabolu when they meet in a non-title fight on the undercard of the annual Macufe festival’s Boxing Expo in Bloemfontein on October 2.
Macufe is short for Mangaung African Cultural Festival. This annual show starts on October 1 and continues over nine days until October 9.
The tale of the tape in this bout says this may well be a unification fight for the overall featherweight champion of the central provinces; Northern Cape and Free State.
In this year alone Magugwana has been the most active boxer in his weight division post the Covid-19 pandemic in the Northern Cape. Ramabolu’s tape, on the other hand is, self-evidently, still at some distance.
The likelihood is high that Ramabolu might become the undisputed featherweight champion of the Free State. That may be many fights down the line, and there is still much untapped talent out there.
For Magugwana two non-title fights on his curriculum vitae is good. He is a family man. He lives modestly. The earnings from boxing make a difference.
Kenneth Dira, one of two of Magugwana’s trainer-coaches at Freedom Boxing Club, knows the purses due to boxers from paid promotions too well. Not enough is available for the boxers. He hopes things could change for the better. For now, his stable is grateful to see corporate sponsored action in the square ring.
Magugwana impressed many pundits at his first paid fight in Kimberley. This was his debut in the fist fight game’s only female boxing entrepreneur Sinazo Moroke of Moroke Boxing Promotion’s first show, billed “Ready to Rumble” at the Recreation Hall in Hulana street, Galeshewe in August.
Asked about the outcome of his last fight against Andile Mfeka that did not go his way when everybody thought he had done enough to win. Magugwana gives a toothy smile and chortles.
“Yeah, I should’ve won. I warmed up in the last rounds. I think had the fight gone on for say, six rounds, I think I would have won.”
Speaking to Magugwana and hinting that Ramabolu in the Free State may be a different kettle of fish, and that being unknown and untested might be his strength. The DFA asked, “What is your plan?”
“I know nothing about him,” Magugwana replies. “It will be his first fight. He’s making his debut. I have nothing special prepared for this fight. I’m just going to box. I am a boxer. That’s all.”
Magugwana dispelled the notion that he is a complete novice in boxing. “I fought my last amateur fight in 2018. That was my last fight before Covid came in. I’ve been doing this for a long time,” he says.
What is your fight name?
Magugwana hesitates before laughing out loud. “I dont have one yet. It will come.”
Kenneth Hlakudi, Magugwana’s other trainer, commented on his boxer’s prospects in Bloemfontein. “I spoke to him. I told him that he lost his fight as a debutant, so he must also make sure that his opponent loses on debut. If he can knock him out, all the better still.”
Tickets to the boxing expo are available online at R100 per head.
