Exciting boxing action expected at The Battle of the Warriors in the Sun Arena
International boxing action comes to Pretoria in the form of six action-packed fights on Sunday afternoon at the Battle of the Warriors Boxing Extravaganza in the Sun Arena at Times Square, Menlyn Maine.
The eagerly awaited Battle of the Warriors Boxing Extravaganza, which takes place tomorrow (Sunday from 12:00) in the Sun Arena, will now only consist of six bouts after the fight between Ivana Habazin from Croatia and Gifty Ankrah from Ghana had to be cancelled.
Habazin unfortunately injured her wrist in a training session a few days before the battle and had to withdraw from the fight.
However, the tournament will still deliver exciting boxing action, with two heavyweight fights and another four action packed battles on the cards.
Boxing experts especially look forward to the main battle between Vladyslav Sirenko from the Ukraine and Rocky Kaleng form the DRC.
Although Sirenko is an Eastern European, he has close ties with South Africa and he has fought most of his professional fights here. He is being coached by the well-known James Ali Bashir, who was previously involved with the famous Klitschko boxing camp.
Sirenko is currently training in the same camp as the ruling SA heavyweight champion, Ruan Visser.
He had a very successful amateur career in Ukraine, where he won two national amateur titles.
As a professional boxer, the 23-year-old young giant of 111kg and 1.93m is unbeaten after eight fights so far. He won four of these fights by knockouts, while he also forced three opponents to surrender via technical knockouts.
In the other corner opposite Sirenko, the experienced and wily Rocky Kaleng from the DRC will be waiting for his chance to show that he still has it to fight on this level at the age of 40.
Kaleng this week told Rekord that Sirenko’s advantage in length (16cm) did not bother him and that he was shorter than most of his previous rivals.
In his long career, he has already won an African heavyweight title and the Universal Boxing Organization’s (UBO) world title and Kaleng believes that he has enough mettle left in his body to make another onslaught on a world title before he retires.
According to Kaleng, he got his nickname because of his regular underdog status in fighting and he believes he can surprise Sirenko again on Sunday night.
Boxers who will be in action in the other fights are:
- Donjuan van Heerden vs Francis Matika (Middleweight);
- Tian Fick vs Warren le Roux (Heavyweight);
- Ripfumelo Chikwambana vs Sam Sithole (Lightweight);
- Michael Markram vs Jackson Masamba (Light heavyweight);
- Vladyslav Baranov (Ukraine) vs Benoit Vela (DRC) (Welterweight)
The doors at the Sun Arena will open at 12:00. Other entertainment will also be part of the extravaganza and artists like Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels, Dozi and the comedian Barry Hilton, will entertain guests.
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