Will Rajuili emulate his hero?

Ballito’s rising star boxer, David Rajuili, is in for the fight of his life when he bouts current champion, Jasper Saroke, for the South African junior lightweight title on Saturday, October 17.

Currently ranked fourth in SA, Rajuili said he would step into the ring at the Mafikeng civic theatre, North West, a much fitter fighter and better prepared than for any of his previous ten fights.

“This is the craziest training I have ever done in my life,” said Rajuili.

Still with coach Hardy Mileham, Rajuili now fights out of Domination Fitness, a top boxing gym in Durban North which is also home to a number of Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) fighters.

Rajuili said 32-year-old Saroke was an aggressive fighter with a big jab and he would counter with power coming forward.

“I will do the same as normal but with more punches and jabs,” said Rajuili.

He said his hero was former professional boxer, Brian Mitchell who is widely believed to be the best South African boxer of all time.

Rajuili said he hoped to be one step closer to emulating Mitchell on Saturday by becoming the junior lightweight champion.

Mitchell, who turned professional in 1981, clinched the WBA junior lightweight title (same weight category as Rajuili) in 1986 with a tenth round knockout against Panamanian, Alfredo Layne.

Rajuili heads into the fight with a seven to three win lose record against Saroke’s 24 to six.