Bantamweight Tiisetso Matikinca (left), undefeated with nine professional fights, aims to uplift his family and achieve world champion status, while praising Aquila Boxing Promotions as his supportive platform, as he prepares for his upcoming fight against Sabelo Cebekhulu at Knockout Chaos 1 in Sandton. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
Hailing from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, bantamweight Tiisetso Matikinca is determined to make a better life for himself and his mother.
Having made his pro debut in 2023, Matikinca has nine fights under his belt and is undefeated.
WBC bridgerweight world champion and Aquila Boxing Promotions (ABP) ambassador Kevin Lerena has already predicted a bright future for Matikinca.
On Saturday, weighing in at around the 52kg mark, Matikinca will take on Sabelo Cebekhulu at Knockout Chaos 1 in Sandton in the only eight-round clash on the night.
If he comes away victorious, Matikinca has set lofty goals for himself.
“After the next fight, I want to fight for a title. Long-term goal for sure is to be a world champion, undisputed, unified, unified the world, bantamweight division, and be a big brand in South Africa, definitely,” Matikinca told IOL in an exclusive interview.
“Basically, my friend inspired me to box. So for me and them, they stopped along the way. So basically, my inspiration is to take my mom out of the hood and give them a better life and have a better life for myself too.
“It's basically just business, I believe. So I just want to take care of myself, put myself in a position that is better than the one I am right now.”
That said, there is a new innovation in the form of a cash incentive with this event - the Knockout Clock. If the knockout comes in round one, the fighter will receive a R30,000 bonus. Every round after that, the bonus will decrease by R5,000.
“People are saying it's going to be a test for me, but I don't see it like that. I've been waiting for this thing for a long time to showcase my skills. So it's not really a tough fight for me. He's a strong guy who's coming forward. So basically, I'll be fighting on the back foot, countering him.
“But if he has an opportunity for a knockout, I'm taking it for sure.”
“I'm prepared to go eight rounds if it happens. But like I remember, I'm not getting paid over time. I'm getting paid to knock someone out. So I'm prepared to go, like my stamina is good. Every fight that I'm going to, my stamina is all the way up to date. So I'm not really worried about those types of things. I can go like 12 rounds if I have to.”
As for fighting on this platform, Matikinca had nothing but praise for ABP.
“Basically, Aquila Boxing Promotions is my home. Where I've been fighting here for a long time. So it's a pleasure to be fighting here all the time. It's a great platform, the stage is good, and how they organise the tournament. It's really uplifting me at the same time.
“It's giving me motivation because it's organised by Kevin Lerena, who is a world champion. So it's nice.”