East London’s Xaba Promotions (XP) played down the defection of their top boxing star to Colin Nathan’s management team this week.
The promotions company suffered another blow when world champion Mpumelelo Tshabalala linked up with Nathan.
But XP boss Ayanda Matiti said Tshabalala had no contract with them despite being their only world champion.
Tshabalala, who holds the IBO junior-flyweight title, joined Nathan’s No Doubt Management team, handing the Johannesburg mentor another boost over XP in their rivalry.
Nathan said Tshabalala joined him after being frustrated by inactivity since winning the IBO title with a points decision over Argentine Junior Zarate in Midrand in September 2024.
“Tshabalala felt frustrated after several postponements of his title defence, leading to him being out of the ring since September,” he said.
Securing Tshabalala, who is handled by the Malinga brothers, Vusi, Patrick and Peter, comes after XP’s biggest star Phumelela Cafu moved to Nathan in June 2024.
After being manoeuvred by XP to the top of the ratings by world sanctioning bodies, Nathan negotiated Cafu a world title shot against Japan’s Kosei Tanaka in October 2024.
Cafu, from Duncan Village, scored an upset win to take the WBO junior bantamweight title in Japan.
While Cafu’s defection worsened the relations between the two parties, XP appeared to be calm about Tshabalala’s departure.
“We did not have a contract with Tshabalala,” Matiti said.
Tshabalala has been fighting in XP tournaments since 2022 when he lost a controversial decision to Siphamandla Baleni in an SA junior-flyweight title challenge at the East London International Convention Centre. The loss remains the only blemish in 12 bouts.
When Baleni vacated the title, Tshabalala battled for it against Xolisa Magusha, scoring a six-round stoppage win at the same venue.
Two title defences against Sikho Moshani and Athenkosi Thongwana sandwiched an international win over Filipino Melvin Mananquil to set him up for the IBO title win over Zarate.
While the win was expected to vault Tshabalala to big international fights, instead he went into a period of inactivity.
“I told myself that let me give Nomakanjani [Nathan] a chance to see if he could save my career because it’s been too long since I have been fighting,” Tshabalala said.
Peter Malinga said: “We are looking for better opportunities for Tshabalala and I think it is time for him to grow.
“I fought for major world titles such as the IBF and WBC and I want the same for my boxer.”
Nathan, who often steers his boxers to major world titles, said an announcement of Tshabalala’s next step would be made soon.
He said he was happy to work with the Malingas, whom he enjoyed watching when they held SA titles during their fighting days.
Vusi held the SA bantamweight title while Peter bossed the welterweight division before going on to win the WBU world belt.
Patrick battled against several East London opponents during his SA lightweight title reign.
Daily Dispatch
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