As the boxing world braces for the start of the WBC Grand Prix league in Saudi Arabia, the sport in SA will be celebrating its own groundbreaking innovation when Arena Holdings launches a unique league at the company’s offices in Johannesburg on Friday next week.
The event is being staged under the umbrella of the National Boxing Championship (NBC), the brainchild of former Fifa referee and PSL boss Andile “Ace” Ncobo, and will see 14 boxers battling it out in the flyweight division over six rounds.
Laying to rest concerns about whether the Boxing Act and regulations accommodated such a model, Boxing SA acting chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka said the NBC would be operating under a registered promotional company headed by Anney Xala.
“From our side everything is above board and the BSA sanctioning committee has given the event the green light,” he said.
Ncobo, who has been pleading with SA boxing role players to emulate the soccer model to safeguard the future of the sport, said the event would unleash modern boxing practices while fusing the sport with the corporate sector.
“The physical eventing model is 100% VIP hospitality, but the on-screen consumption will be for the mass market,” he said.
Among the innovations is that the matchmaker will provide a brief history of each of the 14 boxers to generate interest.
Arena Holdings coastal chief commercial officer Bongani Siqoko, who made a compelling presentation at the national boxing convention in East London in February, pleading for the fusing of the sport with commercial sector, said the company had partnered with NBC to stream the event via its Viva Nation TV platform.
“This is one of our collaborations to commercialise boxing by providing a platform to enhance its value,” he said.
“When the opportunity came to partner with NBC we did not think twice as it relates with our goal to play a role in the revolution of the sport.”
So captivating is the league that it has also attracted SABC TV which will televise it live on its sports channels and digital platforms.
Ncobo said the seven bouts in the flyweight division would serve as a precursor to the full-blown league involving other weight classes.
Topping the bill will be the professional debut of amateur star Sithembile Cele, who is taking on Letlhogonolo Tsoeli. The bout will pit Cele’s speed against Tsoeli’s cagey style.
The 22-year-old Tsoeli has already tasted the professional set-up, notching up a win on debut, but will have his hands full against his adversary, who is two years his senior.
Other bouts: Lucky Nyembezi (1 fight, 1 loss) vs Themba Motau (1 fight, 1 win); Nkosana Mofokeng (4 fights, 1 win, 3 losses, 1 draw) vs Andile Cindi (9 fights, 1 win, 6 losses, 2 draws); Sibonelo Maseko (8 fights, 3 wins, 5 losses) vs Tshiamo Zwane (3 fights, 2 wins, 1 loss); Siphosethu Matyholweni (2 fights, 2 losses) vs Mothusi Sekano (1 fight, 1 win, 0 loss); Bongani Mokgosi (2 fights, 0 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) vs Keabetswe Mamphoka (1 fight, 1 win).
Daily Dispatch
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