South African boxer Sikho “Sequence” Nqothole moved a significant step closer to a world title opportunity after defeating England’s Charlie Edwards in an IBF junior bantamweight elimination bout at York Hall in the United Kingdom.

Nqothole delivered a dominant performance over 12 rounds and secured a unanimous points victory, with the judges scoring the contest 116-113, 116-112 and 117-111 in his favour.The result positions the 31-year-old from Mthatha as the next challenger for the IBF junior bantamweight championship.

The current title holder, Mexico’s Willibaldo Garcia Perez, is scheduled to face Australia’s Andrew Moloney in Japan, and Nqothole is expected to challenge the winner of that bout.

Following the victory, Boxing South Africa COO Mandla Ntlanganiso praised Nqothole’s discipline, preparation and determination, saying he had not only won the fight but also made a statement on the international stage.

Ntlanganiso encouraged him to remain focused and continue the hard work that brought him to this point, expressing confidence that he could bring the IBF title back to South Africa.

Trainer Bernie Pailman revealed that Nqothole had to overcome difficult circumstances during preparations in the UK, including training in public parks and dealing with less-than-ideal facilities.Despite those challenges, the boxer remained fully committed and focused on the task.Nqothole, who turned professional in 2017, has built an impressive record of 22 victories, including 19 knockouts, against only three defeats.

A former IBO All Africa and WBO Global champion, he now stands on the verge of competing for one of boxing’s most prestigious world titles, representing both the Eastern Cape and South Africa on the global stage.