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Philippines, 14 Feb 2026 |
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Cafu vs Libranza for IBF Strap in South Africa, Celebrating "Madiba as a Boxer" By Carlos Costa PhilBoxing.com Fri, 04 Aug 2023  One of the highlights of South Africa's boxing calendar is around the corner. South Africa Boxing is about to stage a formal, black-tie boxing show, honoring the life of humanity hero Nelson Mandela. The annual event, organized by South Africa's Xaba Promotions - now in its 8th year - celebrates Nelson Mandela as a boxer. Considered by many to be the father of South Africa, Mandela loved boxing, trained in boxing and fought amateur boxing matches. In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela wrote “Boxing is egalitarian. In the ring, rank, age, color, and wealth are irrelevant." This year's exciting evening showcases WBO Inter-Continental and IBF International title battles of tough Filipinos, colliding hard against South African standouts on Sunday, August 20, live on the SuperSport Channel, The World of Champions. In one of the main attractions, skilled, hard-hitting, world-ranked 18-year-old Phumelele Cafu (8-0-3, 7 KO's) of Duncan Village, Eastern Cape, South Africa, gets all set to climb the square ring to box far more-experienced former world-title challenger "Cobra" Genesis Libranza (20-2, 12 KO's) of Davao, Philippines. The young Cafu puts his double world-rankings on the line of fire. Currently, the unbeaten rising-star is the WBA #13 and IBF #9 world-ranked in the super flyweight (junior bantamweight) division. The "Cobra" Libranza wants that. He thinks he can get it. That's because, after claiming wins in China, the Philippines, Carson CA, as well as a KO win at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, "Cobra" Libranza feels his experience and ring-savvy moves the needle in his favor. In addition, there is the motivation for Libranza to return to South Africa for a win. It was in South Africa where he suffered one of the only two setbacks in his boxing career. That defeat for the 29-year-old "Cobra" unfolded 6 years ago when he challenged none other than the "Baby Face Assassin" Moruti Mthalane (40-3, 26 KO's), for the IBO Flyweight World Title, being roughly over-powered by the talented and lethal "Baby Face Assassin." Therefore, fans wonder this: Will the experience of the Filipino "Cobra" Libranza be too much for the still teenager Phumelele Cafu? Are the handlers of the young world-ranked Phumelele Cafu making him bite off more than he can chew? Or will the promising, hard-hitting South African youngster going to prove to all of us that he already possesses enough boxing capabilities to deal with a 20-2 fighter as "Cobra" Libranza, shinning bright in such a special, televised evening for nothing else but the coveted red & golden IBF International Title, as well as a berth in the IBF World Rankings in the super Flyweight division? Answers we will get on August 20 The plush evening of international boxing, as well as fine dining, honoring the beloved Nobel Peace Laureate Nelson Mandela, "Madiba as a Boxer," is a production of Ayanda Matiti of Xaba Promotions, the chairman of the Boxing Promoters Association of South Africa. May the Best Man Win! The author, boxing writer Carlos Costa, can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and WhatsApp +639184538152. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.  |
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