East London manager Mla Tengimfene may have scored another big win over Boxing SA when he forced it to order a rematch of the SA mini-flyweight title bout involving his boxer, but he is gunning for more.
Tengimfene successfully challenged the controversial loss of his charge, Mthokozisi Ngxaka, to Thinumzi Gqola in their SA title clash at the Portuguese Hall in Johannesburg on August 17.
Mthatha’s Ngxaka, who trains at Tengimfene’s All Winners Boxing Club in Mdantsane, was declared the loser by judges Jaap van Nieuwenhuizen and Mmoledi Malokoane by margins of 116-112 and 115-113, respectively, while Thabo Spampoel had him winning by 116-112.
Tengimfene was particularly irked by Van Niewenhuizen’s scoring of the last round for Gqola despite the Duncan Village fighter being pummelled from corner to post and nearly getting stopped.
After reviewing the fight using three judges from Cape Town, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, BSA ordered a rematch. Two of the judges on the review panel scored the fight for Ngxaka, while the third had it a draw.
BSA said the process was undertaken in line with the boxing body’s fight review procedure, which involves an independent and impartial review of the footage of the entire bout.
“The panel comprised three experienced, neutral judges drawn from three different provinces to ensure a balanced and objective assessment,” BSA said.
“Each judge meticulously reviewed the fight against official scoring criteria.
“And based on their independent assessments, the panel reached a different outcome from the one declared at the tournament.”
Despite having previously won an appeal when he successfully challenged the demotion of his boxer, Lwando Mgabi, in the junior bantamweight ratings, Tengimfene said the ordered rematch was not enough.
“Listen, I am glad our protest was proved valid, but my boxer has an unjustified loss against his name while the judges responsible walk scot-free,” he said.
He said he would only be satisfied if the outcome was changed to a no-contest and the judges who declared Ngxaka a loser were dealt with.
“This practice has been going on for a while with no repercussions for the offenders, while we are left with disillusioned boxers who might end up straying into unsavoury activities.”
However, BSA insisted that the result could not be changed.
“In accordance with the BSA fight review procedure, when a panel reaches a decision that differs from the one declared at the tournament, the only recourse is an order for a rematch,” it said.
“Prior results cannot be nullified or changed, save for specific exceptions.”
BSA ordered the Ngxaka and Gqola camps to begin negotiations for the rematch and conclude them within 90 days.
The decision to stage the fight in Johannesburg, though it featured two East London boxers who could have filled any venue in the province, was also controversial.
Daily Dispatch
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