All eyes are on Nelson Mandela Bay woman boxer Razell Mohamed, who is on a quest to make history this weekend.
Mohamed is fighting IBF heavyweight champion Lani Daniels at the Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday.
When she steps into the ring, she will become the first SA woman boxer to fight for a world heavyweight title.
This will be the 34-year-old New Zealander Daniels’s first defence after winning the IBF belt in May against her Kiwi compatriot Alrie Meleisa, 30.
The battle lines between the boxers were drawn after SA cruiserweight champion Mohamed took to social media to call out the No 1-ranked heavyweight boxer in November 2022.
In her last fight at home, Mohamed successfully defended her SA cruiserweight title against Limpopo’s Rolen Mulebo in a unanimous points decision in August 2022.
The boxer, who is a schoolteacher at Ankervas Primary in Rocklands, claimed the vacant title when she beat Lillian Molala of Mpumalanga in a 10-round matchup at the Fairview Sports Centre in Gqeberha.
This will be Mohamed’s first international fight as a professional boxer.
“I am very privileged. This is my first world title fight — I think we are just going to have fun in there,” Mohamed said.
“Of course, it’s definitely not going to be an easy fight.
“She obviously wants to retain her title and I want to take it, so we are going to give each other hell, I am sure.”
The 34-year-old, who fights under the Caiph Camp banner, joined boxing in 2018 from martial arts.
She is ranked third on BoxRec and is undefeated with three wins and two draws.
“I take a lot from my martial arts background. There are other things I use that I incorporate into my boxing as well.
“So, some variations to my boxing are a lot bit different from what you would normally see.”
Daniels is confident she will successfully defend her title.
“I am in the best shape that I have ever been,” she said. “I can’t remember the last time I was in such good shape.
“We have just stepped it up a little in terms of the work we are putting in.
“My running times are faster and I am punching harder. I am literally living and breathing boxing and it’s so cool,” she said.
New Zealand’s IBO super-bantamweight world title champion, Mea Motu, will also be in the ring on the night of the main event.
Unbeaten Motu will face heavy-handed Malawian challenger Ellen “Tigress” Simwaka of Malawi in her first defence of the IBO crown she won in April by outpointing Tania Walters at the same North Shore venue.
Simwaka is based in SA and trained by Vusi Mtolo.
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