With just two weeks remaining, a highly anticipated celebrity boxing showdown involving South African A-lister and television actress Khanyi Mbau has taken an unexpected twist. Mbau has withdrawn from the boxing match, where she was slated to face entertainer Zodwa Wabantu, leaving fans and organizers in shock.

The eagerly awaited celebrity ring action was scheduled to take place at The Ridge Casino in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, generating considerable buzz in the entertainment world. However, Mbau's sudden exit from the event has raised eyebrows, as it is rumored that she made demands that the event organizers found difficult to accommodate.

According to an insider with knowledge of the situation, preparations were proceeding smoothly until Mbau's abrupt decision to pull out of the exhibition match. The source revealed that the organizing team had meticulously followed all protocols, including sending her a contract that she duly signed and depositing funds into her account. She appeared enthusiastic and ready to step into the ring. Now, the organizers are disappointed by what they consider unprofessional behavior—pulling out just weeks before the fight.

Another source speculated that it's possible that Khanyi Mbau had cold feet. Some suggest she might be concerned about her perfectly manicured fingers, raising questions about how they would fit into boxing gloves. Allegedly, the elegant actress presented unrealistic demands, providing the organizers with a pretext to cancel the boxing match.

In a surprising turn of events, Arnold Nododile, the event's organizer, moved swiftly to find a replacement for Mbau. The new contender's identity remains shrouded in mystery, with Nododile declining to disclose the celebrity's name, but Sunday World got to find out that Mbau’s replacement is an actress from an SABC1 soapie. Nododile only confirmed Mbau's withdrawal, stating that Khanyi will no longer be part of the fight, but it’s worth noting that a potential replacement to take on Zodwa Wabantu has been found. He said that they (the organizers) were just waiting for the actress to return the signed contract so that they can proceed with promoting the event through posters and other media.

As for the reasons behind Mbau's sudden departure, Nododile explained that they  encountered scheduling conflicts which they couldn't resolve, prompting her to refund them the previous day.

Despite multiple attempts to reach out to Khanyi Mbau for her perspective on the situation, communication has remained elusive.