By Mesuli Zifo
The sudden and unexpected death of prominent trainer Welsh Mnguni is still lingering in the mind of South African flyweight champion Xola Sifama so much that every time he steps into the ring Mnguni spiritually comes back to his life
Mnguni died abruptly in October 2009 after he suddenly fell ill while alone with his daughter at his East London home leaving a throng of his fighters in a crime infested Duncan Village informal settlement in a lurch.
At the time of Mnguni’s death only Thando Vukuza was the champion, having captured the SA featherweight title with a points victory in a rematch with Leli Mbilase three months earlier.
Vukuza was to surrender the title to Sabelo Jubatha via a 10th round stoppage defeat in December 2009.
It was left to Sifama to pick up the pieces for the Welsh Mnguni Boxing Club and he did it in emphatic fashion when he stopped the young Anele Makhwelo in six rounds to win the vacant title relinquished by Moruti Mthalane after claiming the IBF world crown.
However Sifama’s reign has been shrouded in uncertainty with him being an underdog every time he steps into the ring but always proving naysayers wrong by eking out resounding victories.
For instance he was the underdog against the unbeaten Makhwelo but made his detractors eat humble pie when he stopped the fancied fighter.
He was also expected to fall against unbeaten prospect Wele Yokose but again the savvy Sifama gave the young challenger a boxing lesson en route to a 11th round stoppage.
Despite pulling off these victories, the champion will still enter the ring as an underdog when he defends his crown against Doctor Ntsele at Orient Theatre in East London, SA on Sunday.
Sifama, 30, says he knows that people are not yet sold on him as a champion but through the spirit of Mnguni he will keep proving doubting Thomases wrong.
“Bro Welsh is always with me when I inter the ring and through his spirit I have been able to prove people wrong,” he says.
Sifama (9-2-1, 6 Kos) is the shining beacon for the club and his reign is a constant memory to Mnguni who worked so hard to recruit youngsters to boxing from the crime- infested informal settlement.
“My stablemates look up to me to keep the name of the club alive in the memory of bro Welsh and I am glad I am able to carry out that duty even though it is a mammoth task,” Sifama says.
“It means I must fight with everything I have when I step into the ring to ensure that the title remains in this club.”
He is confident that he will prevail against the 24-year-old Ntsele (13-3, 10 Kos) who will have former IBF junior featherweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in his corner.
Ledwaba who helped launched the career of what has since been a dominant Manny Pacquiao when he surrendered his IBF world title via a sixth round stoppage, has since become a trainer and is hoping that Ntsele will be his first champion.
But with the spirit of Welsh in his corner, Sifama is confident of emerging unscathed from yet another mammoth task.
