By:Saneliso Mlambo
South African flyweight warrior Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi will put his title on the test to honour the former South African president and a struggle icon Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela in the 6th annual celebration of Madiba the boxer tournament.
Buthelezi will return in the ring after being inactive for a year to make the 5th defence of his IBO junior bantamweight belt against the mexican challenger Adrian Jemenez at the International Convention Center in East London on 27 July.
The tournament is organised to celebrate Mandela’s birthday month on Saturday.
“It is always an honor being part of this prestigious event, words cant explain how excited i am. To me, it means as a black child i am privileged to enjoying the fruits of the struggle which he (Madiba) and the others fought for.
The fact that i share a same birth month with the icon makes sense in every-way, that i was born for this. Even though our fights were not the same, but the goal is the same. It feels good to go back in the ring and do what i love. i am looking forward to the fight. It is not only about defending my title, but also to represent the people of South Africa and to respect and celebrate our hero Nelson Mandela, said Buthelezi.”
Buthelezi who is also celebrating his birthday month, last defended his crown in unanimous 12-round victory over Argentina’s Lucas Emmanuel Fernandez on July 2018 in the same same event.
The 33-year-old southpaw stance from Boipatong,Gauteng, who has a record of 21-5,4 KO’s since making his pro debut on July 21 2006, has won a multitude of titles, including the South African strawweight, WBO Africa strawweight, IBO strawweight, IBO junior flyweight, IBO Africa bantamweight, WBA Pan African junior bantamweight and IBO junior bantamweight. His outstanding victory was against multiple world champion Hekkie Budler, over 12 rounds for the IBO junior-flyweight belt on June 27, 2011.
The challenger Adrian Jemenez (25), ranked 28 , was born in Guadalajara -Jalisco, Mexico. He holds a record of 15 wins in 16 fights( 13-5KO’s-1) since his professional debut in 2011 when he was 17. He has not faced any top ranked fighters and this will be his first shot at a world title.
Martin Ruiz is the only boxer to cause upset in Jemenez carrer in December 2012.
The tournament will also feature other title bouts like a WBO junior flyweight title match between Nkosinathi Joyi and Sphamandla Baleni, and SA flyweight between Jackson Chauke and Sihle Jelwana.