The Provincial Managers’ Association has hailed the deal between Viva Nations TV and promoters to stream boxing tournaments as a game-changer.
The streaming service company, owned by Arena Holdings, entered into a deal this week with four promoters — two from East London and two from KwaZulu-Natal — to live-stream their tournaments starting with the BBB Promotions show scheduled in East London next weekend.
Viva Nations TV will also air KayB Promotions’ show featuring the return of Duncan Village golden boy Azinga Fuzile against Namibian Sebastianus Nataneal at East London’s Orient Theatre on August 25.
The show to be organised in conjunction with Last Born Promotions will also see Zolisa Batyi, from Nxarhuni, just outside Mdantsane, bidding for the third defence of his SA featherweight title against knockout specialist Yamkela Phaliso.
The two tournaments will provide activity for scores of boxers in the region after a lull in the first half of the year, with Viva Nations TV and KayB Promotions the last to present a show when they launched in March.
The barren run was only broken by Xaba Promotions when it staged a tournament commemorating Youth Month in June featuring Landile Ngxeke against Filipino Jerald Paclar.
Provincial Managers’ Association secretary Thulani Mhlubulwana said the deal by Viva Nations TV was the best news for the sport which was struggling to attract broadcasters.
“We hail this move by Viva Nations TV because we have been crying out for deals like this to save our sport,” he said.
“Until broadcasters show commitment to boxing, we cannot hope to convince the corporate sector to come on board because it wants mileage.
“It needed one broadcaster or streaming company to take a leap of faith so that others can follow.”
Mhlubulwana appealed to the partners to consider increasing the purses of boxers, especially those fighting in preliminary bouts.
The structure is locked in negotiations with the provincial promoters body to increase the purses of boxers competing over four rounds to R6,000.
Four rounders are currently paid R4,000, which Mhlubulwana says has been the purse for almost 10 years.
“Everything has gone up but our promoters still pay boxers purses they paid 10 years ago and that is not on.
“You must remember that boxing is a dangerous sport with each bout having the potential to permanently maim an athlete.”
Arena Holdings group content officer Bongani Siqoko said the purses of boxers were determined by promoters and Boxing SA.
“All we are doing is to stream the tournaments, otherwise other requirements are handled by BSA,” he said.
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