The Western Cape Super Bantamweight Champion, Kaya Mlata, from Khayelitsha, won via a unanimous points decision after eight rounds of action against the former WBO Inter-Continental Bantamweight Champion, Siboniso Gonya, from KZN, at the Cabo Beach Club in Waterfront, on Saturday, October 19.
Fighting out of Blood, Sweat and Tears in Sea Point, Mlata extended his unbeaten record to six wins with the win in the junior featherweight division on Saturday.
“The game plan was good. The preparation went according to plan. We were much more comfortable with the plan and it was to break him down, not to rush through for any stoppage. We knew it was going to be hard to knock him out since he is a veteran so we took it one step at a time,” said Mlata.
With a perfect record of 6-0, Mlata is getting closer to his dream of becoming a world champion. His boxing journey began in 2018.
“I started boxing at Bonnytoun Child and Youth Care Centre. Boxing saved me. Boxing makes me want more in life, to change the lives of the people around me, that is why I do it. I was introduced to it by Andrew Phokeng at Bonnytoun,” said Mlata.
His coach, Felix Venganayi, visited Mlata in Makhaza on Sunday; Mlata was already asking for his next opponents’ details.
“We got the fight eight weeks ago. By the time we received the call Kaya was already 75% fit. During the fight, Kaya wanted to end it quick. I didn’t want him to stop him. I said he must enjoy the fight. We knew Gonya would be strong but Kaya is quicker. On Sunday I went to his house and he was fresh like he just finished a sparring session,” said Venganayi.
