Azinga Fuzile can make history under a handful of circumstances tonight. Fuzile can win a world title belt and join the long list of world titleholders from South Africa.

He can also become the first fight from South Africa to win a world title at the ‘Mecca of Boxing.’ 

Fuzile will face Kenichi Ogawa tonight at The Hulu Theatre inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. The 12-round bout will precede the main event bout between unified world lightweight titleholder Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos, Jr. 

Both fights will stream live on DAZN (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT).

Fuzile (15-1, 9 knockouts), who resides in East London, South Africa, last fought on May 29, stopping Martin Ward in round 8. The victory over Ward took place 20 months after Fuzile was stopped by Shavkatdshon Rakhimov. 

There was controversy surrounding the outcome of the fight as Rakhimov was accused of utilizing smelling salts and ammonia in between rounds, which are prohibited under Boxing South Africa rules. Video of one occurence in between rounds show Rakhimov’s cutman hold a white object below Rakhimov’s nose. After an investigation, the IBF upheld the outcome of the fight.

The IBF ordered Rakhimov to face Ogawa, but Rakhimov backed out of the fight in September due to an undisclosed injury.

Colin Nathan, who manages Fuzile and submitted the protest to the IBF surrounding the Rakhimov outcome, is confident Fuzile can pull off the win tonight. The win would be a significant boost for boxing in South Africa.

“(Tonight is a) major fight for South Africa boxing as we do not currently have any legitimate world champions,” Nathan told BoxingScene Friday morning. “South Africa has a long history with the IBF junior lightweight title. Brian Mitchell, Cassius Baloyi, Mzonke Fana, Malcolm Klassen, etc.”

A win tonight for Fuzile will also mark a first for any fighter from South Africa.

“Should Fuzile win, he will become the first South African to win a world title at Madison Square Garden.”

Ogawa (25-1-1 1 NC, 18 KOs), who resides in Tokyo, Japan, is unbeaten in his last four bouts since fighting to a no-contest against Tevin Farmer in December 2017. Ogawa was originally announced the winner by split-decision, but the outcome was overturned to a no-contest after Ogawa tested positive for Androstanediol. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing