Masibulele "Hawk" Makepula has stated that he will retire if he loses his next fight scheduled for September 1 at Emperors Palace.
The 35-year-old former three time world champion will be chasing his fourth world title when contests for the vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior bantamweight crown against an opponent yet to be confirmed.
However, two Australian fighters Hussein Hussein, who is an Iran native, and Armenian-born Vic Darchinyan as well as South African junior bantamweight champion Zolile Mbityi have been mentioned as possible foes.
Although he suffered a fourth round stoppage defeat to the Mexican fighter Jorge Arce in his last bout in August last year, Makepula said he would emerge victorious against any of the fighters mentioned.
"I do not know who I will face but whoever it is must know that I am far from finished," he said.
"Otherwise if I lose there will be no point of continuing to fight."
The deeply-religious fighter said his preaching was taking much of his time.
"My time is taken up by marriage counselling, preaching and other God related activities so my time in boxing is nearing an end," he said.
Makepula also confirmed that he had returned to Golden Gloves Promotion (GGP) after severing ties with Branco Sports Production (BSP).
BSP boss Branco Milenkovic denied that he had lost interest in Makepula due to his devastating loss to Arce.
"My contract with Makepula expired in December last year and because I have two other fighters in the junior bantamweight such as Evans Mbamba and Mbityi there was no space for him especially as we do not deal with the IBO," Milenkovic said.
"I resurrected Makepula from the brink of collapse to headlining an HBO boxing tournament in less than two years." - Sapa