Boxing SA distanced itself from the ongoing boxing blackout in the province, denying that some tournament applications were being turned down.
The province is going through one of the leanest spells in years, with just one major tournament taking place since the beginning of the year.
That show was organised by the new kid in the promotion business when KayB Promotions made its debut partnering with Viva Nations TV to present the SA featherweight title clash between Zolisa Batyi and Lucky Hobyane in March in East London.
Since then, only two development tournaments funded by the provincial government took place in Sada and Mthatha in April while the women’s tournament in January was a postponed event.
Big promoters such as Xaba Promotions and Rumble Africa Promotions have been eerily quiet, with allegations that XP was barred from staging tournaments over its owner Ayanda Matiti, who chairs the National Professional Boxing Promoters’ Association (NPBPA) which took BSA boss Mandla Ntlanganiso and sports minister Zizi Kodwa to court.
However, this was denied by Ntlanganiso though he confirmed the inactivity in the province was a cause for concern.
“We have not turned down any application for a tournament in the Eastern Cape,” he said.
“The truth is, applications have been very few and I guess promoters have decided to take a wait-and-see approach.
“Maybe after the national elections and the new government has been [installed] they will then shift focus to boxing.”
XP, which owns some of the top boxers in the country, usually dominates the promotion space by staging big international tournaments.
Among the slew of top fighters XP owns are SA junior-bantamweight champion and world-rated Phumelela Cafu, SA bantamweight champion and world-rated Landile Ngxeke, SA junior-flyweight champion and world-rated Mpumelelo Tshabalala and a plethora of rising stars such as Tisetso Matikinca, Siyabulela Hem, Moyisi Booi and Siseko Teyisi.
Matiti declined to comment on whether he was barred from staging tournaments.
However, award-winning matchmaker Luyanda Kana lamented the inactivity, saying he was being inundated with requests from boxers to get them fights.
“It is sad what is happening because all boxers want is action and when that does not happen they cry to me as someone who often gives them bouts,” he said.
“Now they are training for nothing and you know the job of the boxer is to fight.”
Rumble Africa has not staged a tournament since its show featuring IBF junior-flyweight champion Sive Nontshinga against Filipino Regie Suganob in East London in July 2023.
While its chair, Teris Ntutu, insisted that the promotion was still active, no date has been set for its next tournament, leaving some of their boxers such as former SA junior-featherweight champion and Olympian Ayabonga Sonjica starving for bouts.
Others such as former world-rated Nhlanhla Tyirha and bantamweight Lusizo Manzana sought activity under other handlers.
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