Zolisa Batyi’s camp has struck a deal with Lindelani Sibisi to challenge him for the SA featherweight title after a breakdown in negotiations with Lindokuhle Khuzwayo.
The fight, scheduled to take place at East London’s Orient Theatre on April 27, was agreed on after a war of words between Batyi’s promoter, KayB Promotions, and Xaba Promotions, which guides Khuzwayo’s career.
The two top East London promoters deadlocked on the purse and travel arrangements for Khuzwayo, with Xaba demanding a R50,000 purse.
Xaba also wanted the fighter and his entourage to arrive in the city five days before the fight.
KayB offered a R30,000 purse — later increased to R35,000 — and that the boxer and his camp would arrive in the city on the day of the weigh-in.
In a strongly worded email to KayB boss Mzi Booi, XP’s Ayanda Matiti said his charge should be treated fairly because he was a mandatory challenger despite being rated fourth.
But Booi argued that Khuzwayo was a mandatory challenger by default as the top-rated contender was Sibisi, with whom he had also failed to reach an agreement.
Booi said it would be impossible to accept terms from Khuzwayo because it would cost too much to book a hotel for three people for five days.
“This is why we decided to revisit our earlier talks with Sibisi and this time we were able to find common ground,” he said.
Booi said Sibisi’s promoter, Elphas Dladla, had wanted to stage the fight in KwaZulu-Natal and that led to a disagreement.
“This time he is willing to come to East London, but they are demanding neutral judges, and we are prepared to have one of the judges from KwaZulu-Natal.”
Dladla wrote to Boxing SA requesting an arrangement in which there would be co-ordination between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provincial offices to facilitate the appointment of the officials.
Sibisi, who has knocked out all but one of his opponents against two losses, poses a bigger threat than Khuzwayo as he also holds the ABU title.
Batyi, who has also lost twice and drawn once in 13 bouts, will be defending his crown for the fifth time, having last fought when he beat Abdul-Aziz Kunert in November.
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