Kickboxers take up pro boxing

Three young Randfontein kickboxers are proof that you can never be too young to turn pro.

While it is not that unusual to turn pro at a young age, the trio did not turn pro in kickboxing – they chose boxing, which they have only just started doing.

Gomza Rakwena, 20, Neo Petlele, 23, and Shaundouglas Njoka, 19 are kickboxers who fight under Mark Hey, FitStop Gym and HeySports. Mark explained that they are now taking on boxing to try something new and to give their general fighting skills more depth.

Gomza became the South African Junior K-1 kickboxing title-holder at the age of 18. He has had 19 fights and no losses with only 19 stoppages in his entire career.

Neo has had more fights than Gomza and has won 21 of the 28 fights he’s had.

Shaundouglas is the youngest and smallest of the lot, but he’s dynamite in the ring. He has won 13 out of 15 fights.

Mark said he had already sent their information out to other West Rand pro boxers like Manny Fernandes, and hopefully within the next few months at least one of the fighters will have their first pro fight.

“I always put them in a position where they can grow. I mean, they may have their asses handed to them during the first few fights but then they develop from those first fights. Nearly all the kickboxers I’ve trained are pro boxers or have boxed in pro fights at some point,” he said.

Mark and his new pro boxing team are excited for their upcoming fights and promise to put on a show and bring home a few medals.

Watch his video here:

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