South African welterweight champion Mziwoxolo Ndwayana’s dramatic contest with Shaun Ness last month has been named Fight of the Year at Boxing SA’s annual awards at the Sandton Convention Centre on Friday night 17 May 2019. The Makhanda (Grahamstown) boxer, known as ‘The General’, went up against Ness for the vacant title in the Portuguese Hall in Johannesburg in September last year. Mziwoxolo won that fight by TKO in the 8th round to become SA Champion.

SA welterweight champion Mziwoxolo Ndwayana’s title fight in September 2018 earned him the Fight of the Year title at the Boxing SA awards at Sandton Convention Centre on Thursday 17 May 2019. Photo: Supplied

His manager, Bulelani Ndwayana, was thrilled.

“First of all we thank God for giving us this time, our management our gym. This is the biggest award for us – and it’s for Makhanda too!

“All in all we deserve it, because we always work so hard,” said Bulelani, who is Mziwoxolo’s dad.

Ndwayana successfully defended the SA Welterweight title against Odwa Gaxa from Mdantsane on 31 March at the Uitenhage Indoor Sports Centre, beating him via TKO in the 7th round.

Next up for ‘The general’ is the Vacant IBF Africa title fight against Antonio Mayala from Angola. It will be the main supporting bout on 15 June at the Uitenhage Indoor Sports Centre. The event is organised by Nyusa Boxing Promotions.

At the same contest, World Boxing Federation Women’s Welterweight champion Noni Tenge will fight a 10-round challenge by Nomampondo Xhotyeni, UTH former SA Champ.

IBO welterweight champion Tulani Mbenge won Male Boxer of the Year for 2018 and Melissa Miller Female Boxer of the Year. Female Fight of the Year was Asandiswa Nxokwana versus Sherodine Fortuin.

Bafundi Makhubalo, Senior Manager for Sport and Recreation at the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, congratulates welterweight boxing champion Mziwoxolo Ndwayana on his BSA boxing award. Photo: supplied
Sue Maclennan

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