Boxing SA is yet to take action against three Eastern Cape boxers who sneaked out of the country to fight in Tanzania in December.
The boxers, Lusizo Manzana, Asemahle Wellem and Sihle Jelwana, left on December 26 without obtaining clearances and suffered losses which should have jeopardised their standing in SA boxing.
Jelwana, from Komani but based in the Free State, lost to Kalolo Amir, while Mthatha boxer Manzana appeared to be the victim of a hometown decision when he was adjudged the loser to unbeaten Ibrahim Mafia in a bantamweight clash.
East London’s Wellem, who holds the SA super-middleweight title, suffered a split decision loss to Frank Shagembe, two weeks after returning from Australia, where he was stopped in eight rounds by Conor Wallace in a WBA Oceanic light-heavyweight title clash on December 11.
Due to his stoppage loss to Wallace, Wellem was under automatic suspension, but he decided to take the fight in Tanzania, where he had previously suffered a disputed decision when his WBF title clash against Selemani Kidunda was controversially scored a draw.
The unauthorised bouts were the latest in a string of unauthorised fights involving SA boxers, with some ex-fighters taking bouts in Tanzania.
Accompanying the Eastern Cape trio was long-retired former champion Malcolm Klassen, who lost to Said Chino at the same tournament at the Super Dome Arena in Dar-Es-Salaam.
BSA director of operations Mandla Ntlanganiso said the regulatory body was still dealing with the matter.
“We are still on top of it,” was all he was prepared to say.
Boxing licensees are divided on the issue, with some endorsing boxers fighting in Tanzania to make much-needed earnings owing to the scarcity of bouts in SA.
Boxers such as former world champions Nkosinathi “Mabere” Joyi and Simpiwe Vetyeka took bouts in Tanzania after being subjected to inactivity at home.
Joyi is religiously attending training sessions at the Mpuncuko Boxing Club, insisting he has not retired despite having last fought in SA in 2021 when he was knocked out by Ayanda Ndulani to surrender his IBO mini-flyweight title.
Vetyeka, a former WBA and IBO champion, attempted to make a comeback after his career was cut short by a horrific car crash, but was denied a licence by BSA.
While Vetyeka, Joyi and Klassen are not licensed with BSA and therefore cannot face disciplinary action, Wellem, Manzana and Jelwana are licensees.
But BSA’s ratings committee has not removed them from the ratings, with Manzana retaining his third spot in the latest ranking despite the loss.
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