The row over Landile Ngxeke’s defection is having far-reaching ramifications in East London boxing with two managers clashing publicly after taking opposing sides on the issue.
The Sada-born fighter, who was training in Mdantsane, dropped a bombshell when he dumped long-time East London promoter Ayanda Matiti of Xaba Promotions to join Colin Nathan’s No Doubt Management in Johannesburg a fortnight ago.
The defection was the biggest in SA boxing since another of Matiti’s boxers, Phumelela Cafu, left to team up with Nathan when he was on the verge of a world title shot in June 2024.
Though Cafu’s departure soured relations between the two promoters, Matiti did not challenge it. This time, however, he has vowed to fight Ngxeke’s defection to the bitter end.
Last week, Matiti submitted an objection to Boxing SA, giving the regulatory body a few days to inform the IBF, which had already mandated Ngxeke to contest its vacant bantamweight title against Mexican Jose Salas Reyes.
Should the IBF decide that there is a strong legal impediment to Ngxeke’s promotional and management status, it will probably bypass him and mandate another contender to fight for the title.
But Nathan, who emphasised that Ngxeke was not contractually tied to anyone when he signed him, dared Matiti to take the matter to court, saying he was ready to defend the signing.
“My legal team is ready for them, and I saw their papers of objection,” he said.
“All I can say is that this is going to be fascinating, taking into account their points of objection.
“If someone thinks this is similar to interdicting the previous sports minister, they must think again.”
Nathan was referring to the move by XP’s legal representative, Mafani Attorneys, who successfully challenged former sports minister Zizi Kodwa for appointing the Boxing SA board without consultation.
While the dispute of over the defection raged on, two East London managers, Mlandeli Tengimfene and Phathekile Sinyabi, slugged it out on a social media platform after Tengimfene was shown in a photo with Ngxeke, Nathan and promoter Larry Wainstein at Nathan’s HotBox gymnasium in Johannesburg.
Sinyabi attacked Tengimfene for siding with Nathan in the row, labelling him a traitor and a puppet of whites against a fellow East London promoter.
“Tengimfene’s actions are a clear indication of what is happening to boxing in our province and specifically [BCM],” he said.
But Tengimfene defended the move, arguing that he was at Nathan’s gymnasium to accompany his boxers for sparring sessions.
He hit back at Sinyabi, accusing him of posturing and relevance-seeking despite having himself played a role in the poaching of Eastern Cape boxers by white trainers in Johannesburg.
“The same person who now claims to be holier than thou used to recruit Eastern Cape boxers on behalf of the late Nick Durandt.”
Matiti and Nathan declined to participate in the mudslinging between Sinyabi and Tengimfene.
Daily Dispatch
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