The Lion King unmasked
The roar of anticipation has echoed across the boxing world and all eyes are now on Cape Town’s latest sensation: “The Lion King”.
Avuyile “CJ” Lumkwana, from Masiphumelele, is the fighter behind the mask.
After a quarter-final finish in the open boxing championships in Limpopo last year, Lumkwana set his sights on the professional boxing arena.
He marked his debut with a four-round points’ victory in a junior bantamweight fight at Vibrant Sports Studios, in Ottery, in June.
“On June 22, I made my professional debut in the junior bantamweight and won it on points. Now we’re doing the second one in the junior flyweight division. I am ready. You can drop the weight any day, I will make it. I stay ready in the gym,” said Lumkwana.
He is gearing up for a shot at the Battle of the Foreshore, taking place at the Sunningdale sports complex, on Friday September 27.
The boxing showcase, organised by Jackie Brice Boxing Promotions, sees an all star list of rising boxers ready to battle.
The bill is headlined by two major title fights for the vacant WBF Africa bantamweight and the vacant SA junior bantamweight title.
Asekho Nocele will battle against Ayanda Gangqa for Africa, while Lwando Mgabi squares off against Sihle Jelwana for South Africa.
Unbeaten female boxer and Western Cape champion Simamkele Tutsheni will be on the bill against Pamela Mutanga.
Lumkwana is fighting out of Southpaw Boxing Club in Noordhoek, under the watchful eye of national trainer, Siyabonga Lupuwana.
With Tyron Lloyd at Southpaw, they are the team that produced the new Western Cape junior lightweight, Sikelela Xatasi, as well as national amateur silver medalist
The CTMOBO deputy chairman, Lupuwana said they are preparing numerous youngsters from Mfuleni and Masiphemulele to compete in the amateur and professional ranks.
Lumkwana will fight against Zusiphe Panci on September 27.
“CJ showed a lot of interest and that is where Tyron saw him too. Let’s keep on focusing on what we are doing. We laid out the programme for CJ, the same like Sikelela. We still have Sive who is coming up the amateur ranks. We are developing them, if they pass the programme they are going to win championships,” said Lupuwana.
