WBC silver mini-flyweight champion Siyakholwa Kuse has left the All Winners Boxing Club to join the Brian Mitchell Academy in Johannesburg.
Kuse’s former management team finally confirmed the move after numerous denials when the Mdantsane left-hander failed to report to training for two months.
The defection is the biggest by an Eastern Cape boxer since Duncan Village’s Phumelela Cafu dumped the Xaba Boxing Club to team up with Colin Nathan in Johannesburg in June.
The defections are a major blow for boxing in the province as top boxers keep dumping their mentors for their Johannesburg counterparts.
While Cafu’s move was straightforward as he joined a rival camp, Kuse’s departure took everyone by surprise because his manager, Mla Tengimfene, and Mitchell had enjoyed cordial relations since Kuse’s clash with the Mitchell-managed Beaven Sibanda in Johannesburg in December.
Kuse beat Sibanda on points to claim the vacant WBC silver belt.
The win was a progression in his career which was derailed by drug addiction until Tengimfene rescued him and whipped him back into shape by guiding him to win three titles, including the SA crown, which he had surrendered to Bangile Nyangani at the height of his battle with substance abuse.
Tengimfene confirmed that Rodney Berman, who promoted the Kuse-Sibanda bout, called him to inform him that Kuse had joined Mitchell’s academy.
“Brian was also present when Rodney called and I also spoke to him about the move,” he said.
Despite investing his time and money in reviving the boxer, Tengimfene confirmed that he had no contract with Kuse.
“I have never tied any boxer down to a contract even though I spend my time and money on them and Kuse was no different.”
Several attempts to speak to Mitchell drew a blank.
However, Berman’s Golden Gloves Promotions’ website confirmed Kuse’s arrival at Mitchell’s academy.
Though the reasons for his defection remain sketchy, insiders said Kuse was unhappy with his purse in the Sibanda clash.
The boxer was reportedly made to believe he would be fighting for a certain amount of money but when the fight contract arrived a few days before the bout the purse had been slashed by nearly 40%.
Tengimfene declined to confirm or deny the claims but admitted that Kuse was jittery before the fight.
“There were times when he was moody on the days leading up to the fight, but we thought it was due to gym blues because boxers react differently before a big bout.”
Though he played it down as one of the reasons, Mitchell’s attending the WBC Convention in Germany in December where he lobbied for Kuse to be elevated in the ratings while Tengimfene could not go is believed to have convinced the boxer to move to Johannesburg.
Though he confirmed he was heartbroken by his charge’s defection, Tengimfene said he was happy he had played a role in shaping Kuse’s life and would continue to do so for other boxers.
“My mission to rescue these athletes from their social ills will never be deterred by defections as I am in this space to help and support them for a better future.
“Kuse is at the top of the world today and I am proud of what I have done for him.”
Kuse, who is rated third by the WBC, is on the verge of challenging for the title held by Filipino Melvin Jerusalem if he beats Yudai Shigeoka in their rematch in Japan on March 30.
Daily Dispatch
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