Ellen Simwaka to vie for IBF title on May 26
By Peter Fote
Former World Boxing Federation Intercontinental female bantamweight champion Ellen Simwaka will face the reigning South Africa bantamweight champion Sharadene Fortuin in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) Africa female bantamweight title in Johannesburg on Thursday, May 26.
This is a rematch as Simwaka controversially lost the fight during their first meeting.
Simwaka, who lost on points at Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre in Eastern Cape Province in 2017, has vowed to knock out her opponent in the early rounds.
“I am so bitter and ready to end the fight in the early stages because I don’t want a repeat of our first fight in 2017, when I lost on points. I have been in camp for months now preparing for this fight. This time around, I will shock her,” Simwaka said.
Following the win, Simwaka improved her record to nine wins including seven knockouts, five defeats and two draws.
Matchmaker, Steve ‘Mawenzi’ Msiska, who co-manages Simwaka, said they were working on a different strategy to avoid a repeat of what happened during the last fight.
“We are happy with the rematch after we lost in 2017 under unbelievable circumstances. This time, we will not give any room for the judges to declare the winner. We are going for a win,” he said.
Simwaka, 24, knocked out Gabisile Tshabalala on January 27 whereas Fortuin, 27, has won her last two fights when she defeated Melisa Miller on December 4 and August 15 last year.
Fortuin has 13 wins including three knockouts, a draw and loss.
Peter Fote is a Sports Journalist with huge experience in radio and Television reporting, production and presentation. He once worked with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and is currently working for Times Media Group.
