Thulani Mbenge will win South Africa’s first Commonwealth Games boxing medal since 2006 when he competes on Friday in the welterweight semifinals.

Mbenge reached the welterweight semifinals when he beat Eon Bancroft from Guyana on points in Glasgow on Wednesday. This ensures him of at least a bronze medal in the 69kg division.

Mbenge will take on England’s Scott Fitzgerald in the semifinals on Friday, hoping to go on to fight for the gold medal.

In other South African boxing news at the Commonwealth Games, middleweight Siphiwe Lusizi and bantamweight Ayabonga Sonjica did not make it into the semifinals and won’t bring back medals. Connor Coyle of Northern Ireland beat Lusizi on points and Sean McGoldrick of Wales did the same to Sonjica.

South Africans have not won Commonwealth Games boxing medals since Bongani Mwelase took gold and Jackson Chauke silver in Melbourne in 2006.