The East London boxing team accompanying Azinga Fuzile vowed not to be distracted after they were stuck in Turkey for more than 18 hours on their way to Kazakhastan.
The team consisting of former world champion Zolani Tete, who will man Fuzile’s corner when he faces Sultan Zaurbek in Astana on Saturday, and assistant trainer Lonki Witbooi flew out of OR Tambo Airport on Sunday evening to Istanbul.
However on arriving in Turkey they discovered they had to wait for close to two days for a connecting flight to Astana which leaves at 1am on Tuesday.
“We had to arrange accommodation for them so they could rest properly,” Fuzile’s manager, Mla Tengimfene, said.
“I do not know whether these are mind games to distract us or a genuine flight technicality because I understand there are other means to avoid this.”
The team will arrive in Kazkhastan on Tuesday having spent the two days travelling.
Despite the long journey, Tengimfene said Fuzile was in high spirits and not distracted by the challenge.
“If anything Fuzile’s resolve has become stronger and he will ensure he does not let this opportunity slip through his fingers.”
Fuzile is used to fighting abroad, though his last bout was a bit of a downer when he lost to Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa for the IBF junior lightweight title in the US in 2021.
Before the loss, he scored a stunning one-punch knockout of Englishman Martin Ward in a world title eliminator, also in the US.
Tengimfene said the Duncan Village left-hander had been given a chance to chase for another world title by the offer to fight Zauberk.
The Kazakhstani is unbeaten in 19 bouts, which has helped him earn lofty spots in world sanctioning bodies’ ratings.
Fuzile, who has won three fights in a row since the Ogawa loss, is hoping to take a shortcut to a world title shot by beating Zaurbek.
Tengimfene, who left on Monday to join the team, said his flight would follow a similar route, delaying in Istanbul for 13 hours before he arrives in Astana on Wednesday.
Fuzile’s clash against Zaurbek for the WBA continental junior-lightweight title will be one of the 10 bouts on the card at the Barys Arena headlined by the IBF and WBO middleweight title defence by Zhanibek Alimkhanuly against Congolese-born Frenchman Anauel Ngamissengue.
Daily Dispatch
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