JOHANNESBURG – South Africans are strongly represented in the latest rankings of the World Boxing Council.
Altogether 18 find themselves rated, six of them from Golden Gloves’ burgeoning stable.
The stable is best represented among the cruiserweights with Kevin Lerena (7) followed by Tommy Oosthuizen (20), the ABU champion, and Thabiso Mchunu (32).
Ryno Liebenberg, also an ABU champion, occupies the 21st spot among the super-middleweights.
Crucially, Thulani Mbenge has entered the top 10 – he’s ninth – ahead of such fighters as Chris van Heerden (22), Jeff Horn (11) and Brandon Rios (19).
The best-placed, however, is number one-ranked Simpiwe Konkco, who will likely have to duke it out for the mandatory position for Wanheng Menayothin’s championship belt.
Kevin Lerena during the Champions WBA Pan Africa/SA Cruiserweight Championship match. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Other South Africans to be rated are:
Xolisani Ndongeni (18 – lightweights), Azinga Fuzile (21 – super-featherweight), Sibusiso Zingange (40 – super-featherweight), WBC International champion Lerato Dlamini (17 – featherweight), Ludumo Lamati (8 – super-bantamweight), WBC International champion Yanga Sigqibo (21 – super-flyweight), Sikho Nqothole (37 – super-flyweight), Bongani Silila (35 – light-flyweight), WBC International champion DeeJay Kriel (7 – minimumweight), Siphamandla Baleni (24 – minimumweight) and ABU champion Ayanda Ndulani (33 – minimumweight).