Wasim Chellan eyes redemption in Valentine's week boxing return

Wasim Chellan will have his pre-Valentine’s Day celebrations in the ring, doing what he has become known for and excels in, boxing.

The plan for the Manenberg fighter is simple: to ensure he leaves the ring with his face still intact so that he can celebrate the following day with his loved ones.

Chellan is set to take on Malangana Nzama at the Retreat Civic Centre in what will be his comeback bout, following an unsuccessful attempt at claiming the SA welterweight crown in September 2025.

On that night, Chellan was caught by the hard-hitting Phaphama Rhonorhono and was unable to recover, eventually being stopped in the second round. It marked the first stoppage loss of his professional career.

Despite the disappointment, the man known as “Kleurling” is not one to make excuses and understands the unforgiving nature of the sport.

With four of his nine professional victories coming by stoppage, Chellan knows all too well how quickly fortunes can change inside the ring.

“There isn’t really anything I can say I did wrong. He caught me with the punch, and unfortunately, I couldn’t recover,” said Chellan.

“That’s something I had to make peace with, because I’ve done that to other people before. I can’t complain when it happens to me.”

The upcoming fight is seen as an important step in Chellan’s plan to remain among the top contenders in the welterweight division and work his way back into title contention.

The ultimate goal remains clear: to reclaim the number one ranking and earn another shot at the SA belt.

“I still feel like I never really got the opportunity to test him,” Chellan said.

“He caught me with a temple shot, and that was that. I believe there’s more to show.”

A change of scenery could also bring out a different version of Chellan, as he has recently switched camps to train under Felix Venganayi at Blood, Sweat, and Tears Gym.

He stressed that the decision was made without any bad blood, parting on good terms with his previous team, which included respected trainer Allan Dillon.

Chellan has urged boxing fans eager to see him regain momentum in the SA welterweight standings to make their way to the Retreat Civic Centre on Friday, February 13. Tickets are available on Quicket, and supporters can receive a discount by using his exclusive code, Chellan20.