Youth vs experience as Khaya Mlata targets bigger 2026
Khaya Mlata is back in action in April after winning the WBC belt a year ago.
Image: Buntu Gotywa
It has been four months since Khaya Mlata was crowned the WBC Youth World Super Bantamweight champion, and the unbeaten pugilist now has a confirmed date to return to the ring.
On Saturday April18, Mlata will take on former South African champion Bongani Mahlangu in the headline bout of the first Fight Island boxing event of 2026. It is a matchup that pits momentum against experience, hunger against mileage.
Mlata enters the fight with a perfect 9-0 professional record, while Mahlangu brings 38 bouts’ worth of experience, marking a clear step up in opposition for the young champion.
But Mlata remains firmly on an upward trajectory, and the clash presents another opportunity for the young champion to showcase his growing ring IQ and sharpened skillset.
If 2026 mirrors the breakthrough strides of 2025, Mlata could be positioning himself for even bigger nights before the year concludes.
A year ago, he made three ring walks, including the career-defining showdown against Ardy Katompa that earned him the coveted green belt.
That victory not only added another piece of silverware to his collection but also elevated his standing within the division.
Based in Khayelitsha, Mlata trains under the guidance of Felix Venganayi at Sea Point’s Blood, Sweat and Tears gym, a setup that has steadily moulded him into one of the country’s most promising young fighters.
The upcoming bout will serve as another calculated move in his climb up the WBC rankings, where he currently sits at number 32.
However, the next assignment will be far from straightforward. Mahlangu has stood across the ring from some of the division’s most recognised names locally, and his experience could prove invaluable on fight night.
He brings composure, resilience, and the kind of ring savvy that only years of competition can produce.
Ultimately, the contest shapes up as a compelling narrative of experience on one side and youth on the other. For Mlata, it is another test of his championship credentials and perhaps another step toward even greater honours.