South African female lightweight boxing champion Raider Muleba will defend her title for the first time when she steps into the ring with Bonita van Jaarsveld from Gauteng. The match is scheduled to take place on Friday, 28 April, at the Meropa Casino in Polokwane.
Speaking to Limpopo Mirror on Tuesday, Muleba said she had been putting a lot of work in and was optimistic that she would retain her title. "I worked very hard for this fight, and nothing will stop me from retaining this belt. I am calling on all my fans from the Vhembe region to come in big numbers to support me. Polokwane is just around the corner, and I need your support," she said.
She added that she wanted to prove once more that a girl from the villages could defend the national belt.
Her trainer and manager, Mr John "Smoking Joe" Nemakonde, said that as the only champion in his stable, they would do all in their power to retain the belt. "Raider has been working very hard for the past two months in preparation for this fight. We are definitely going to win," he said.