Joshua Feldman to Fight Tumi Nakedi on November 23

Junior middleweight prospect Joshua Feldman is scheduled to fight Tumi Nakedi on November 23 at Box Camp Booysens in Johannesburg, South Africa. The tournament, promoted by Boxing 5, will also feature the debut of Josh's friend and fellow Jew, Doron Zinman.

Feldman is a real-life Spiderman. Just before his debut, he was bit by a spider, which must have been radioactive because the 20 year old from Cape Town has looked superhuman on his way to a 4-0 record with 2 KOs. He doesn't shoot webs from his hands, though, just straight lefts and right hooks.

The southpaw last fought on September 20 and earned a dominating first round knockout victory. "I was pretty pissed off because the guy never made weight," Josh told SA Boxing Talk. "I was coming to hurt him in that fight."

Feldman usually spends the first part of his camp in Cape Town at the Blood, Sweat, and Tears Gym before coming up to finish at the Hot Box Gym with Colin Nathan  in Johannesburg. This time, however, he came back to Johannesburg two and a half weeks after his last fight, a good bit earlier than usual. Josh also spars twice a week at Apex Gym because there are some guys in his weight class there.

Nakedi (1-3-1) is from Johannesburg and fought from 2016-2018. A southpaw, he throws punches from awkward angles. He has some skills; he slips punches and uses feints, but he's no Green Goblin. In his second fight against Steven Dewu, Nakedi threw quite a few lead left uppercuts starting from his socks, which is typically a recipe for disaster. That fight was nearly seven years ago, but if he does that against Josh, look for counter right hooks to find a home on Nakedi's face.

Nakedi last fought six and half years ago, so he brings a level of unpredictability to this fight. He was a junior welterweight back then, but it would be natural to grow a bit heavier in a half-dozen years.

This bout is scheduled for six rounds, a distance Nakedi completed in his last fight, a decision loss to Bheki Mahlangu. This will be Feldman's first scheduled six-rounder. "I don't expect it to go the distance," he told SA Boxing Talk, "but I'm definitely prepared to go six rounds." Feldman believes he'll be even better when his fights are scheduled for more rounds, which makes sense. In previous fights, he rushed his power punches, aiming for a knockout. With more time, he'll be able to establish his jab and and can take the time to set up his power punches. He's also a vicious body puncher, a skill which will have more effect in longer fights.

Feldman-Nakedi will be streamed on DAZN and Vision View TV.

Update: Feldman is now scheduled to fight Brian Shakoane.

Doron Zinman to Face Hope Cindi in Debut

Featherweight Doron "Buzzsaw" Zinman is scheduled to fight Hope Cindi on November 23 at Box Camp Booysens in Johannesburg, South Africa. Both fighters will be making their pro debuts on the Boxing 5 Promotions card.

A 20 year old from Cape Town, Zinman is ready for the challenge. He told SA Boxing Talk, "It's my time. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to fight every week, every month, whatever it is. Give me the contract, I'm ready to go."

About his opponent, who is from Gauteng and received his professional boxing license this year, Zinman quipped, "I know his name is Hope Cindi, I just don't think there's any hope for him."

For this fight, Zinman has gotten a lot of good sparring with a variety of fighters. He told The Jewish Boxing Blog his main partner has been boxer and MMA fighter Luke Hendrikz, who will fight in the same tournament. The blond buzzsaw has also worked with Phumelele Cafu, who recently won a super flyweight world title in Japan. Other partners with whom Doron has sparred include talented featherweight prospect Ismaeel Kadri, junior featherweight prospect Lukholo Mabece, veteran flyweight Frank Sotomela, and David Champati.

Zinman's friend and fellow Jewish boxer Joshua Feldman will also fight on the same November 23 bill. Their trainer/manager Colin Nathan, who is also Jewish, notes that this will be the first time two Jews will be featured on a professional boxing card in South Africa since 1948. Around that era, there were quite a few very good Jewish boxers in South Africa.

Doron is confident heading into his debut. "Of course I'm going to win," he told SA Boxing Talk. "There's no doubt about that. But I imagine it's going to be very exciting. I'm going to give everything I have, really put on a show."

Zinman-Cindi is scheduled for four rounds and can be viewed on DAZN and Vision View TV.

Update: Masibulele Mjoli is now Zinman's opponent.

Preview of Yonatan Landman vs. Asamoah Wilson

Yonatan Landman is scheduled to face Asamoah Wilson on November 16 at Centre Point Mall in Accra, Ghana. This is the first of two fights Landman has scheduled in the span of eight days.

Landman is 5-0 with 5 KOs during his young pro career, which started in January. He has fought as a flyweight and super flyweight. Yonatan applies smart pressure and is developing into a devastating power puncher. He has a good jab, but sometimes needs his coach to prompt him to throw it. In the ring, Landman does listen to his coach, his father Shai, which has proven to be wise.

On paper, Asamoah Wilson is a tough opponent. The 38 year old Ghanaian turned pro before Landman was born. He has a 6-9 record and has challenged for the Ghanaian, West African, Commonwealth, and WBU world super flyweight titles. He fought in England against Don Broadhurst and popular journeyman Jamie Speight. He even scored a first round TKO in England against a 9-1 fighter.

But Wilson (whose name is reversed on BoxRec) doesn't pass the eye test. He was winless when he challenged for the the first three of those super flyweight titles. Against Broadhurst, he managed to bloody his nose in the first with a wild right in their 2009 clash, but he then took a beating until the fight was stopped in the sixth. His first round TKO in England was caused by an accidental headbutt; the opponent got cut and an unfair stoppage loss.

In 2019, Wilson challenged Tasif Khan for the vacant WBU super flyweight world title despite having a losing record. The WBU is considered even less legitimate than the other alphabet sanctioning bodies. Wilson embarrassed himself against Khan, reacting in an exaggerated manner when hit with left hooks. At the ten second warning clap, he turned his back like a novice thinking it was the bell. In the second round, he lost a point for leading with his head. He soon collapsed to the canvas twice for no particular reason. The second time, he got up and rocked his body to show the referee he was too woozy to continue.

In his next fight three years later, Wilson was a sitting duck for Gabriel Odoi Laryea's right hand. Wilson fell in the second round with an apparent leg injury. He next fought three years later, last August, against a beginner named David Nortey. Nortey was 0-3, but didn't know how to box. Wilson dominated the fight, knocking Nortey down four times. Wilson showed a good jab and a powerful but wide right. Nortey managed to last the full six rounds.

Wilson likely won't come to the fight against Landman to lie down, but Yonatan can convince his elder to give up quickly with some early accurate shots. Landman's next opponent, Albert Commey is the tougher foe, but he can't overlook Asamoah Wilson who is an experienced veteran with a punch.

This contest is scheduled for six rounds.

Doron Zinman to Make Pro Debut

Doron Zinman is scheduled to make his professional debut on November 23 at Box Camp Booysens in Johannesburg, South Africa. Promoted by Boxing 5, the tournament will feature two Jewish boxers: Zinman and Joshua Feldman.

A 20 year old from Cape Town, Zinman started boxing at the age of 12. He began to take the sport seriously when he was about 15 years old. He says he had ten amateur fights, winning eight of them.

Zinman received his professional boxing license earlier this year. In South Africa, prospective pros must spar in front of the commission before receiving their license. He has since moved to Johannesburg to train at Colin Nathan's Hot Box Gym. Nathan has noticed significant improvement in sparring and urged Boxing 5 head Larry Wainstein to put Zinman on the November 23 show.

"He's very dedicated. He wants to learn," Wainstein said of Zinman in an interview with SA Boxing Talk. "He speaks to all the guys to try and understand boxing. He's a very humble, studious kid. He trains hard and puts it all in."

Short for a featherweigh, Zinman told The JBB, because of his short stature his style is "a combination of Mike Tyson and Marco Antonio Barrera." He describes himself as "an explosive and relentless pressure fighter."

Doron also spent some time over the summer training in England. He hopes to get about five fights under his belt next year and eventually have a fight abroad. But first things first, the young prospect will look to have a strong showing in his debut on November 23.