Organisers are keeping their fingers crossed that the shenanigans which played out at last weekend’s government-funded boxing tournament in Dutywa do not repeat themselves as the programme wraps up with another show at Foli Hall in Makhanda on Friday.
There were fears that the Dutywa fiasco could rear its head again after the status of the title in Friday’s show was also reduced to an interim belt when provincial junior-flyweight champion Mzwabantu Dabaza withdrew after being involved in a car crash while preparing for the fight against Duncan Village’s Athenkosi Thongwana.
This seemed to follow in the footsteps of the Dutywa show when provincial lightweight champion Siseko Makeleni withdrew citing illness, leaving organisers frantically searching for an opponent for Hlumelo Gingxana to contest for an interim title and eventually settling for Maqhawe Damoyi.
However this backfired when Damoyi was disqualified from contesting the title on the basis that he was coming from a loss, forcing Gingxana to withdraw on realising that no title would be at stake.
The status of the show was reduced to a nursery tournament with question marks on whether it would still count as one the six shows funded by the department of sport, recreation, arts & culture when no title was at stake.
Isizwe Boxing Promotion boss Ntsikayezwe Sigcawu insisted that the absence of the title was not his fault, adding that the show fulfilled one of the requirements by having a female bout when Nomazithini Ndyambo beat Kolosa Ndoyabini in an elevated main bout.
However, this is where the similarities ended with regard to the Makhanda show promoted by Makinana Boxing Promotion as Dabaza replacement Akhona Msindeli’s fight record has no blot that could disqualify him from contesting the title, which has now also been reduced to an interim status.
While having an unimpressive resume which shows more losses than wins, seven with four wins, Msindeli has won his last two bouts to eliminate any doubt about his qualification.
Thongwana, who also suffered back-to-back losses to Mpumelelo Tshabalala in an SA title challenge before dropping a points decision to Abongile Jacob, qualifies by virtue of his win over Luyanda Nkwankwa in his last bout.
Adhering to the stipulation to feature women bouts in all government-funded shows, Anam Xuza will clash against Owam Dyani in a featherweight female encounter.
Five other bouts will complete the show which marks the sixth and last for the financial year before the programme resumes with a new set-up.
Daily Dispatch
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