Raider "The Earthquake" Muleba made history the past weekend when she became the first female boxer from Limpopo to win a national boxing championship title. She beat the tough-as-nails former female lightweight champion, Kholosa Ndobayeni, at the Nkowankowa Sports Grounds in Tzaneen last Sunday evening.
Muleba also became the first boxer from the A-to-Z boxing stable to win a national boxing title.
This resident from Tshidzini village outfoxed, outboxed and hammered Ndobayeni from the first round until the last with swift left hooks and right uppercuts. Ndobayeni, who hails from the Eastern Cape, in turn showed that she was well prepared for the fight as she absorbed punch after punch for 10 rounds without kissing the ground.
After the fight, Muleba said she is dedicating the title to her trainer, Mr John Nemakonde, her parents and the people of Vhembe in particular, and boxing fans across Limpopo.
"I never fought as an amateur. My trainer took me from nowhere and started teaching me the basics of the sport, including how to throw a punch, and today I am a national lightweight champion," she said proudly.
When asked what her immediate plans were, now that she had won the South African female championship title, she said that this was just the beginning of good things to come, and the best of Raider Muleba was yet to be seen. "I am going to rest for two weeks and hit the road again. Can you believe that I am a national champion, but I don't have a single sponsorship? I hope that with this belt, the local business community will support me. I want to defend this title at least twice and challenge for the World Boxing Federation (WBC) before the end of next year," she said.
Nemakonde said that Muleba was the very first national champion he had produced since he had started the A-to-Z boxing academy in 1994. "My stable is as old as the democratic South African government but had never produced a national champion until Muleba snatched it last week. I am calling on all my male boxers to work hard and win national titles. As boxers, how do you feel that the only national boxing champion in this academy is a female boxer? Guys, pull up your socks and do better," he said.
Muleba's training partner, Khodani "Cena" Raphalalani, who fought in the same tournament, beat Thulani Nkwinika on points. Tsumbo Mbedzi drew with Ripfumelo Maluleke.
Thulamela Mayor Sarah Rambuda congratulated Muleba on winning the South African title. "As Thulamela Local Municipality, we are so proud of her for this achievement. She put Thulamela on the map and made a great contribution to the development of boxing in the country." She said the municipality would continue to support boxing and all different sporting codes in the municipality.