Limpopo provincial flyweight boxing champion Rofhiwa "Topis Dangerous" Maphupha believes he is ready for his upcoming bout against Nhlakanipho Kunene at the Escort Hall in KwaZulu-Natal on 15 December.
Speaking to Limpopo Mirror on Tuesday afternoon, Maphupha's trainer and manager, Paul "Cruel Vulture" Masindi, said his boxer had been training intensely for the fight and was eager to step into the ring. "Rofhiwa is in peak condition right now, and he's just waiting for the bell. I'm very optimistic that he's going to secure a convincing win in Durban," Masindi said.
Maphupha was on the brink of competing for the national title earlier this year but was unexpectedly stopped by Seseko Teyise on 30 June. He attributed his lacklustre performance to a stomach bug. Before that setback, in March, he delivered an impressive 56-second knockout victory against Fanele Mhlungu.
Masindi said that following the loss to Teyise, they had revisited their training strategies and focused on rebuilding Maphupha's mental resilience.
"It's not easy for talented young boxers like Maphupha to bounce back from a knockout defeat, but we worked tirelessly to restore his confidence in the sport. He's ready, and I'm confident he'll emerge victorious this time," Masindi said.