Boxing SA is yet to resolve the fiasco surrounding the downgrading of the government-funded tournament in March amid the excitement over the renewal of the deal with another R1.2m last weekend.
The boxing regulatory body extended the deal with the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture, with six more tournaments set to be held in all the district municipalities.
Among the requirements for promoters whose applications will be finalised by the end of June is to headline the tournaments with a provincial title clash.
However, BSA allowed the Isizwe Promotion show to proceed in Dutywa in March without a title bout after provincial lightweight champion Siseko Makeleni, who was scheduled to defend against Hlumelo Gingxana, withdrew citing an injury.
However, reports surfaced that Makeleni bunked training.
Maqhawe Damoyi was secured as a replacement to face Gingxana for the interim title, but this also hit a snag when the BSA sanctioning committee disqualified him from contesting a title, arguing he was coming from a loss.
On realising the title would not be at stake, Gingxana withdrew, leading the women’s catchweight clash between Nomandithini Ndyambo and Kholosa Ndobayini to be elevated to the main bout.
Gingxana, who had been preparing for the fight for three months, demanded to be paid his purse as he was not responsible for the Makeleni bout not taking place.
Despite writing numerous letters to BSA for intervention, the East London boxer is yet to be paid, with BSA yet to take action against Makeleni, who never submitted a medical certificate.
Though BSA chief operations officer Mandla Ntlanganiso said the fiasco was resolved after Gingxana entered into an agreement with Isizwe boss Ntsikayezwe Sigcawu, the boxer denied this.
“We never entered into any agreement with the promoter because this matter should be handled by BSA,” Gingxana’s manager, Lonki Witbooi, said.
“There was a mention of being paid 10% of the purse, but Gingxana felt he needed to be compensated for the Makeleni fiasco and BSA’s decision to disqualify Damoyi.
“We trained hard for the fight for three months, but Makeleni pulled a fast one on him.”
Witbooi accused BSA of double standards for disqualifying Damoyi for the interim title when it had approved other boxers coming from a loss.
“I have a list as long as my arm of boxers who were treated differently.”
Sigcawu said he was never informed by BSA to pay Gingxana despite the balance of his fight budget still with the structure.
“I do not know whose fault it was that the tournament did not feature a provincial title, but certainly not mine,” he said.
BSA could not say why the tournament was allowed to proceed when it did not meet the government requirement, or whether the budget allocation was reduced.
Witbooi said he would continue to fight for what was due to his boxer.
Daily Dispatch
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