Rising star Head to face Nhlapho in tournament at Emperors

The winner stands to walk away with a staggering R185 000 purse.

February 28, 2025

Lebohang Pita 1 minute read

Michael Head. Photo: Yolanda van der Stoep

Benoni boxer Michael Head will take on Bonginkosi Nhlapho from Middelburg during Palace Pandemonium and the Rising Titans at Emperors Palace today.

Along with Bryan Thysse and Tuvia Wewege, the pugilists will go pound for pound in a rising Titans four-man light heavyweight tournament.

Bryan (five wins from five bouts, including two KOs) and Wewege (five wins and two losses from seven fights) will get inside the squared circle first to contest their match, with Head (two wins, one loss and one draw from four matches) and Nhlapho (three wins and one loss from four fights) following after.

The four fighters will walk away with a purse of R60 000, with the overall winner clinching R125 000 while the runner-up will receive R75 000.

The winner stands to walk away with a staggering R185 000 purse and Head will hope to be the one standing in the middle of the ring with his hand raised high after the final in May.

Michael Head, Tuvia Wewege and Bonginkosi Nhlapo are pictured at a pre-fight press conference at the Palace of Dreams on Tuesday afternoon with ring girls, Shannon Theron (left) of Greenstone and Komdedzi Adalete (right) of Marshalltown. Photo: Yolanda van der Stoep

The tournament is on the undercard of the headline bout between local rivals, Edenvale’s IBO world junior bantamweight champion Ricardo ‘Magic Man’ Malajila and IBO flyweight champion Jackson Chauke from Thembisa, for the 39-year-old Chauke’s flyweight title.

The fight has been endorsed as one that promises to be for the history books, with Golden Gloves CEO likening it to a memorable clash between Phillip Ndou and Cassius ‘Mr Shy Guy’ Baloyi for the WBU super featherweight title 24 years ago at Carnival City.

Brandon Thysse will also take on Charles ‘SuperShine’ Shinima from Namibia for the WBC Africa junior middleweight title. Shinima boasts an impressive record of 18 wins and one loss in 19 fights, with his only loss coming by way of injury.

Brandon, from Germiston, has 17 victories (13 KOs), four losses (two by KO) and one draw in his 22 bouts and this match comes on the back of two imposing wins against Junior Makondo in October and Darrin Rossouw in April.

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