This Women’s Month, female boxers will take centre stagewhen the ESPN Africa Boxing 20 event takes place in Johannesburg. Broadcasting live on ESPN on Thursday 25 August 2022, from 19:00 (CAT), the pan-African event’s bill, sanctioned by Boxing South Africa (BSA), features six all-female bouts, including two title fights.
For the first time since claiming the belt in February this year, Simangele “Smash” Hadebe will defend her ABU Flyweight title when she faces Tanzania’s Stumai Muki in the ring, in the evening’s main event. Hadebe’s victory against Halima Vunjabel at ESPN Africa Boxing 14 event made her the first local woman boxer to win a fully-fledged ABU title. Muki’s last fight ended in defeat against Revai Madondo, in Dar Es Salam in January.
“Smash” has been vocal about her personal experience with gender-based violence and uses her boxing to raise awareness of this issue. She was voted Boxing SA Prospect of the Year, and is managed by Colleen McAusland, who made history when she became the first woman to win the Manager of the Year award at Boxing SA’s awards in 2018.
In the co-main event, Ellen “The Tigress” Simwaka, whose carreer record stands at 10W-5L-2D, will take on Lina Kasweka (7-0-0) to defend her IBF Bantamweight title in a ten-round fight. Fighting out of Malawi, Simwaka claimed the title when she beat Sharadene Fortuin following a split decision vote at the ESPN Africa 17 event in May this year, five years after being defeated by Fortuin.
The fight card for this event, is as follows:
MAIN EVENT
Main event: ABU Flyweight Title
10 Rounds
Simangele Hadebe (11-3-2)
v
Stumai Muki (6-1-0)
Co-main event: IBF Africa Bantamweight
10 Rounds
Ellen Simwaka (10-5-2)
v
Lina Kasweka (7-0-0)
Jnr Featherweight
8 rounds
Matshidiso Mokebisi (15-10-1)
V
Patience Mastara (5-7-4)
Jnr Featherweight
6 rounds
Nosiacwase Dube (0-3-2)
v
Lufuno Mutshayi (1-6-1)
Jnr Featherweight
4 rounds
Sazisiwe Simon (1-0-0)
v
Adidya Mimu (1-0-0)
Bantamweight (Female)
4 Rounds
Nomusa Ngema (1-0-0)
v
Monica Mkandla (1 -0-0)
UNDER CARD
Lightweight
8 rounds
Katlego Khanyisa (2-0-0)
v
Sipho Mahlangu (2-1-0)
Featuring a diverse range of the continent’s boxing talent, the ESPN Africa Boxing events that take place on the last (or second last) Thursday of every month, are televised to an audience of up to 60 million homes across Africa and Latin America. The action starts at 19:00 (CAT) on ESPN (DStv 218, Starsat 248), SABC Sport and selected international broadcasters including ESPN across Latin America, as well as a highlights package in TKO (SABC 2, Fridays at 21:30).
How to tune in:
ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248
SABC Sport
- All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
- Schedule subject to change
For updates regarding ESPN Africa Boxing and other sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.espn.com.
