Exclusive: Sibusiso Zingange’s Comeback Story Builds as South African Boxing Looks Ahead

A veteran in his own right, Sibusiso Zingange took to the ring for the first time since he last secured a win against Marcus Lebogo in an eight-round bout in September 2024. 

Rising above challenges

Zingange, has had to make a lot of adjustments since suffering a career-threatening shoulder injury while he was defending his South African junior lightweight title against Lunga Sitemela in 2023.

The 32-year-old has only had four fights since dislocating his shoulder, and with two wins on the bounce in his last two fights, including a unanimous decision win in a catchweight fight against Talent Baloyi over two weeks ago, he is slowly getting back to his best and seeking more challenges.

Zingange and Baloyi went pound for pound in six intense rounds at the inaugural Aquila Boxing Promotion event, with current World Boxing Council bridgerweight title holder Kevin Lerena the face of the competition at the Galleria Events Venue in Sandton.

A window of opportunity

The experienced campaigner told SportsBoom that he expected a different approach from Baloyi despite the fight weighing heavily in his favor throughout the six rounds.

“I was expecting that he was going to stand his ground and fight with a lot of power, but there was none of that. He came with another strategy, and they were holding me a bit too much.”

“I was hoping he would stand his ground and fight me like he speaks.”

“It was an important win for me because it puts me in the number one spot to challenge for the South African title, and we have already put in a request for that but we are still waiting for answers.”

Prior to the two wins, Zingange had lost three fights on the trot and his injury was affecting his activity in the ring, leading him to consider leaving the sport at some point.

“I had to sit down and rethink. In those three losses, I wouldn’t really say I lost.”

“After I lost the SA junior lightweight championship within two fights after that, all the boxers were targeting my shoulder. I then decided that I would put on more weight and try a new division as a compromise and currently that’s working for me.”

“My injury was a setback for me because it required me to go under the knife, and with that I took on a lot of financial strain and no one was available to assist me.”

“There was a point when I wanted to quit boxing but I also felt like, ‘Let me try this (putting on more weight) and see where it takes me.”

Newfound belief

South African boxing has been found wanting in recent years, but there has been newfound belief since Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie introduced a board that will largely be responsible for reigniting the sport in the country.

Zingange added that with the little he has seen, things are seemingly headed in the right direction since McKenzie has been incharge of sports in the country but he also believes that for the sport to go back to what it was in South Africa, promoters need to work hand in hand.

“There has been a lot said; our boxing has not been doing well for a few years now.”

“We have started the year on a better note, and although I cannot say that there are already improvements, I think the new board knows what the sport of boxing entails and I and the rest of the fighters can see that there is a lot of positivity.”

“There are a lot of promoters currently in South Africa but a lot of them depend a lot on government money; it would really do them a lot of good if they could just try to stand on their own and find ways to work together.”