Izinyoka ready for ''''The Heat'''' Namibian fighter to face South African HECTOR MAWONGAQuote Box
Sacky Shikukutu
I''m going there only for a win and nothing else
Sacky ‘Izinyoka’ Shikukutu and his coaching team yesterday left for Johannesburg, South Africa, where the boxer will trade blows with South Africa’s Chris ‘The Heat’ van Heerden.
The boxers will fight for the vacant WBA Pan-African Welterweight title at Emperor’s Palace on Saturday.
Both fighters have near identical records with Shikukutu losing three times in 26 bouts while Van Heerden has two losses and a draw from 27 fights.
The Namibian boxer slightly edges the knockout rate as 50% of his fights have ended in stoppage. The South African, on the other hand, has a 44% KO record.
Shikukutu might be considered the in-form boxer heading into the fight because he was won four consecutive bouts.
Van Heerden lost by TKO during his second-last bout when Errol Spence Jr took him to the cleaners in Canada in 2015.
Both Shikukutu and his rival have only fought once this year, with the Namibian recording a unanimous points win over South African Jason Bedeman in June while Van Heerden beat Canadian Steve Claggett in Las Vegas in the US in April.
This will be Shikukutu’s third fight in South Africa.
The Namibian has yet to lose in that country after recording wins over Lebogang Mboniswa in Johannesburg in 2008 and Luntu Kosana in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha Township in 2009.
Van Heerden is well travelled and has fought his last six fights in North America.
Strike
The tale of the tapes shows that both fighters are left handed, making this a supreme match-up of southpaws.
Speaking prior to his departure to South Africa, Shikukutu said that he will be living up to his nickname ‘Izinyoka’ (which means snake) by striking his opponent at every given opportunity.
"Look, I know Van Heerden is an experienced fighter and I respect him for that and as a fighter, but I''m going there only for a win and nothing else," he declared.
Good news for Namibian fans is that they will be able to watch Shikukutu, who has been training for this fight for the past two months, live on SuperSport (channel SS7A).
Shikukutu’s bout is one of the undercard fights of Golden Gloves Promotions’ International cruiserweight fight between South Africa’s Kevin Lerena and Denmark’s Micki Nielsen.
The Namibian fighter is a product of the MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing and Fitness Academy.