Siphamandla Baleni may have relinquished his SA junior-flyweight crown to pursue a rematch against Ayanda Ndulani for the world title but his camp has yet to supply the sanctioning body with supporting video of his appeal.
This was revealed by IBO president Ed Levine after Baleni filed a protest to the world body over his loss to Ndulani in their IBO mini-flyweight title clash at East London’s International Convention Centre on November 27 2021.
Baleni came from his own controversial victory over Mpumelelo Tshabalala in October 2021 when he challenged Ndulani in an all-East London clash.
After an untidy fight when Mthatha-born Baleni often neutralised Ndulani’s height and reach advantage by smothering him inside, the Mdantsane-trained boxer was adjudged the loser.
The outcome was roundly slammed in local boxing circles, with spectators feeling Baleni had been robbed.
Speaking to DispatchLIVE from the US, Levine confirmed that Baleni’s camp had filed a protest against the outcome but the world body had yet to review the fight.
“We have been waiting for him to send us the video so that a judges review panel can re-score the fight,” Levine said.
“If the panel unanimously judges the fight for Baleni, the IBO would order a rematch.”
Levine could not say when the video was expected to be received from Baleni’s camp, with three months already elapsed since the fight took place.
Xaba Boxing Academy promoter Linda Saliwa confirmed that they were yet to send the video of the fight to the IBO after encountering a technical glitch while previously trying to do so.
“We tried to send the video in another format that unfortunately was not compliant with the IBO systems,” Saliwa said.
“They have advised us which format we should use and we will do so immediately.”
Baleni has already vacated his SA junior-flyweight title, with BSA admitting to having received a letter to that regard.
This has opened a way for Sada-born, Cape Town-based Xolisa Magusha to contest the vacant title against Tshabalala after the BSA ordered a rematch between Baleni and Tshabalala owing to the controversial outcome.
However, while the IBO has yet to review the Baleni-Ndulani fight before deciding whether the rematch is warranted, staging a return fight will not encounter a stumbling block as both boxers are promoted by Xaba Boxing Academy.
But Saliwa could not say if the rematch would be organised even if IBO ruled against ordering it.
DispatchLIVE
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