Razell Mohamed's coach Caiphus Ntante says they are confident of dethroning IBF heavyweight champion Lani Daniels when the boxers meet at the Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday.
This will be 34-year-old Daniels’s first defence after winning the IBF belt against her Kiwi compatriot Alrie Meleisa, 30, at the same venue in May.
The battle lines between the boxers were drawn after SA cruiserweight champion Mohammed took to social media to call out the No 1-ranked heavyweight boxer in November 2022.
Mohamed, who is ranked fourth on BoxRec, won her SA national title in March and is undefeated with three wins and two draws.
The team arrived in Auckland on Monday.
“We have prepared well for the fight,” Ntante said.
“We have been in the gym for two-and-a-half months and there has been a lot of improvement in Razell. In terms of sparring, she had many partners, which was much needed.
“What I am much appreciative of is that her school where she teaches, Ankervas Primary in Rocklands, allowed her to come to the gym even at odd times.
“She is ready and we are ready to take the fight by stoppage because we are fighting away from home. She is in the right frame of mind.”
When asked what they would have to do to win, Ntante said: “What I have noticed after watching four of our opponents’ fights, is Daniels is very quick with her punches and moves around a lot in the ring.
“However, we plan to cut the ring and land big blows so that we know we will finish her.”
Another boxer from Caiph Camp will also feature in a title fight this weekend.
Owethu Rula will fight long-standing SA junior-flyweight champion Nozwelethu Mathotsi at the Orient Theatre in East London on Saturday.
Veteran Mdantsane boxer Mathotsi was first crowned SA champion in 2013 after she defeated Noxolo Makhanavu.
Due to the lack of female boxers in her weight division, her last title defence was in 2017 against Nthabiseng Didi, whom she beat with a technical knockout in the fourth round.
The last time she was in the ring was in 2021 in a non-title fight against Halima Vunjabei, which she lost to a technical knockout.
“Rula is fighting for a SA title against someone who is very experienced,” Ntante said.
“I won’t be by her side at the ring, but I trust those I have appointed to be with her will get the job done and we will come back to Gqeberha with the title.
“Rula is hungry. She has just won an Eastern Cape title and she wants to take her boxing to the next level.
“She is young and I think our advantage will be that she is very active.”
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