South Africa's three-time world champion Zolani Marali will face a stern test when he meets Thailand's Fahsai Sakkreenin at Emperors Palace on March 21 for the vacant IBO junior lightweight crown.
Nicknamed the "Untouchable", Marali will be aiming to win a fourth world championship on the night, to add to his former kudos as an IBO junior featherweight, and WBF and IBO junior lightweight titleholder.
To date, Marali has scored 19 victories and suffered only two defeats, with 13 knockouts to his name. By comparison, the slick Sakkreenin has compiled a resume of 23 wins and only one defeat. No one-punch demo-lisher, the Thai has pencilled in nine victories via the short route.
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Also on the Emperors Palace bill is Jake Els fighting Zimbabwe's Thamsanqa Dube for the vacant WBA Pan African heavyweight title.
Also featured will be South African junior flyweight Hekkie Budler.
Unbeaten as a professional, Budler will meet Charity Mukondelelei in a slated 12-round contest for the vacant IBO Pan African title.
Add to the mix American welterweight Demetrius Andrade - who won the world amateur championship in 2007 and represented the US at the Beijing Olympic - against an as yet unnamed opponent over six rounds.
Local light-heavyweight prospect Jared Lovett is another unbeaten fighter who will test his mettle against Thailand's Anon Donpradit over eight rounds as a catchweight.
The March 21 tournament roster also has slots for former Olympian Jackson Chauke (flyweight) and the potentially riveting Octavious Mbira, a junior lightweight with blazing hand speed and a numbing assortment of punches.
Phillip Ndou returns to the ring on February 14 in San Quentin, France, when he fights Rachid Derilzane in a welterweight eight-rounder. Ndou hasn't fought since losing a split decision to Isaac Hlatshwayo on May 22, 2005. - Sapa
- This article was originally published on page 31 of The Star on January 28, 2009
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