Between 1927 and 2001, 35 South African fighters won a total of 49 world boxing titles. The number of South African world champions peaked in the 1990s. The country had six world champions in 1995, five the following year and six in 1997. In 1998 the number stood at eight, and in 1999 at five world title holders.

BLANTYRE--Malawi-born 'Golden Boy' Isaac Chilemba will fight American Edson Miranda on February 3.

According to the maravipost online malawi newspaper, originally, Chilemba was supposed to fight Cuban light heavyweight Yordanis Despagine on February 11 but he was said to have pulled out, saying he wasn’t mentally ready for the fight.

The South Africa-based Chilemba, who is ranked  6 on the WBC, 13 on the WBA and 14 on the WBO, is under new promoters Dibella Boxing Promotions.

Sakio Bika (28-4-2, 19KOs) is on the road again to face another top fighter in his backyard. The resident of Australia and native of Cameroon faces Andre Ward (22-0, 13KOs) on Saturday in Oakland, Calif., at Oracle Arena. No worries, Bika, said recently; the San Francisco native and Bay Area resident won’t be able to take what he’ll deliver.

“Ward can’t handle my power,” Bika said in a conference call to discuss the fight for Ward’s WBA Super Middleweight belt. “I don’t see how he can and I don’t care that I am fighting in his home area, but I am not overconfident that I will get the knockout.”