Landile Ngxeke’s former promoter, Ayanda Matiti, has vowed to fight to the bitter end to enforce his rights after the boxer dropped a bombshell by leaving him to join rival Colin Nathan on Tuesday.
The Sada-born Ngxeke, who had been training in Mdantsane, became the third high-profile boxer to leave Matiti for Nathan after Phumelela Cafu jumped ship in June 2024, followed by Mpumelelo Tshabalala in September 2025.
All three fighters were highly rated by world sanctioning bodies and on the verge of getting title shots when they left Matiti, who had invested in them and facilitated their rise in the ratings.
Cafu, of Duncan Village, got an immediate title fight after joining Nathan when he challenged WBO junior bantamweight champion Kosei Tanaka of Japan, dethroning him in October.
Though Matiti was angered by Cafu’s defection, he never challenged it.
But after having orchestrated Ngxeke’s rise in the world ratings by matching him against international opposition, including Mexican Eric Gamboa, whom he beat for the IBF International and WBO intercontinental titles at the Orient Theatre in June, Matiti said he would not take his departure lying down.
“This time he has pushed me to the limit,” he said.
“I am going to fight this with everything I have, and I am telling you there will be many casualties here because this thing is a network that involves a whole lot of others.”
Ngxeke, who is rated fifth by the IBF and third by the WBO in the bantamweight division, has reportedly been approved to fight for the vacant IBF title against third-ranked Mexican Jose Salas Reyes.
The opportunity came after fourth-listed Japanese Takuma Inoue turned down the offer, opting instead to contest for the vacant WBC belt against compatriot Tenshin Nasukawa on November 24.
I have a family to take care of as I am the only breadwinner
Matiti said he was already in negotiations with Sean Gibbons, who guides Reyes, to stage the fight.
“Gibbons also manages WBO champion Christian Medina, and we were also discussing the possibility of Ngxeke either challenging for the WBO or IBF titles.”
The IBF and WBC titles became vacant when Junto Nakatani relinquished them to pursue a lucrative undisputed junior featherweight clash against Japanese compatriot Naoya Inoue.
Nathan said he had been following Ngxeke’s career and realised his potential to become a world champion.
This further irked Matiti, who questioned the Johannesburg trainer’s interest in his boxers, saying he believed he was being backed by a business syndicate.
“I invested heavily in Ngxeke and if anyone thinks this is the end, it’s a big mistake.”
Ngxeke said his departure was driven by the dream of fighting for a world title but did not indicate whether he was aware of Matiti’s plans to get him a title shot.
“I am getting older, and time is not waiting for me,” he said.
“I have a family to take care of as I am the only breadwinner. I joined No Doubt Management [Nathan’s company] because I know he can deliver this for me.”
Nathan said Ngxeke would be promoted by Larry Wainstein’s Boxing5 Promotions, which works with No Doubt Management.
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.