Linda Ximba
Reigning South African junior bantamweight champion Thema “Stone Cold” Zuma is set to defend her crown but may be let down by the poor facilities she is forced to train in.
The 30-year-old boxer was crowned the national champ after earning a hard-fought victory over Bathabile Ziqubu at the Greyville Racecourse in July.
Promoter Zandile Malinga of Starline Promotions then secured her a lucrative fight against Gauteng-based Melissa Miller.
They will collide for the vacant African Boxing Union belt in the bantamweight division over 10 rounds at the Olive Convention Centre on Friday night in Durban.
But her excitement at the prospect of fighting for a title that would open doors for international flights should she win has turned into dismay.
She has revealed that she may not be in tip top condition because she has been forced to train in a makeshift gym, either in the street or behind a house in her Lamontville kasie.
The community hall she had been using has been closed due to damage caused by the raging floods that wreaked havoc in KwaZulu-Natal five months ago.
“I am in a dire situation because I don’t have a proper training gym. I have been forced to think out of the box and carry on because I signed the contract and the day for the fight is around the corner,” said Zuma.
She said her trainer Lethokuhle Sibisi has tried in vain to get help from community leaders to get another hall.
But despite her challenge, she said she will do her best against her nemesis Miller, though it won’t be easy.
“She is a quality boxer. I have met her twice and she won. It would have been nice had she come to my backyard and found me well prepared,” said Zuma.
