By Mesuli Zifo
South African lass Noni Thenge says her historic IBF world welterweight title clash against New Zealander Daniella Smith at Carnival City, Brakpan in South Africa on Saturday will be a mere formality as she already sees herself as a champion.
Thenge, who goes by the “She Bee Stinging” moniker borrowed from Laila Ali’s nickname, came face to face with Smith for the first time at a press conference in the venue for Saturday’s fight this week and saw nothing special about the New Zealander.
“I thought she would be taller than me but to my surprise I found us to be the same height and that eliminated any fear I had going to the fight,” Thenge said.
Thenge added that the fact that Smith is an orthodox fighter will also make it easy for her even though she does not struggle against left-handers.
Smith lifted the crown in an action-packed clash against German’s Jennifer Retzke in Berlin last November to become the first female boxer from New Zealand to win a world title of a major world body.
With a single loss in 11 bouts the 38-year-old champion declared at the press conference that she does not have a promoter and will be delighted if Thenge’s promoter Branco Milenkovic would also take her under his wing.
The 29-year-old Thenge unbeaten in 11 bouts and a draw already holds the WBF crown in the division and is considered the best female fighter in the African continent with her boxing technique far better than her male counterparts.
She learnt the finer points of the Sweet Science during her apprenticeship in various local boxing clubs such as Nick Durandt’s Eyethu, and now Sisonke where she spars with male fighters.
She feels the IBF crown on offer will give her boxing career a big boost and parlay it for bigger things.
“My goal is to showcase my talent at the world stage and this IBF title will help me get there because the IBF is the most prestigious world body,” she added.
The IBF has recently endorsed female fighters to contest for its world title with Smith the inaugural world champion in the welterweight division after her victory over Retzke of a fight attended by IBF president Daryl Peoples.
So important is the IBF’s campaign to produce more female world champions that the world body’s championship chairman Lindsey Tucker will personally be at ringside on Saturday to supervise the fight.
The tournament will also feature the return of IBF flyweight title contender Zolani Tete in a six rounder.