EFC's Vince Bembe confirms return to bare-knuckle boxing

Speaking to SABC Sport ahead of this week’s major event in Johannesburg where Bembe and Sack are on the main card alongside the headline lightweight bout between Cole Henning and Humphrey Mulenga, the 30-year-old’s face lit up when he reminisced about his “obsession”.

“I am not going to have much of a festive season because on 2 December I will be involved in bare-knuckle fighting. There are trials on Saturday, so I look forward to finishing off Demba quickly and then heading out there,” Bembe said. 

The combat sport – without any padding on the hands – has been around for generations and has lately been labelled one of the fastest growing events. 

“Yes, it’s crazy, but this is what I grew up doing – we were fighting a lot on the streets. You know how it is, we look after the sheep, cattle and then in between we are fighting with our bare hands. But to be honest, this thing is in me. I could say I am born with it and I am obsessed with it.” 

Asked why he doubles up as a bare-knuckle athlete when he is already part of the growing and popular EFC community, Dembe simply elaborates by saying his nature doesn’t allow him to stay away. 

“It’s all about my experience – I just love it. If I could be involved in Muay Thai, I would also fight there because I love it and want more of it. I want a lot more fights under my belt. I will not only be fighting in South Africa, I need to be overseas and everywhere and for that, I need as much experience as possible,” he explained. 

“Not everyone can do what we do. What I can tell you is that I’m the kind of person that enjoys physical pain not emotional. If my body is sore, then I know I am alive….other than that I feel dead or like there’s something wrong.”