KayB Promotions insists that the second edition of its development show will go ahead as scheduled at East London’s Guild Theatre on Saturday, despite some boardroom stumbling blocks.
The tournament was shrouded in uncertainty when KayB boss Mzi Booi clashed with Boxing SA’s Eastern Cape manager, Siya Vabaza-Booi, over his decision to bypass her and send his application directly to the BSA head office.
Booi had an outstanding complaint about Vabaza-Booi (no relation) stemming from his previous tournament at the same venue in August.
“We have met all the requirements from our side for the tournament to proceed, including the financial obligation,” Booi said.
“The boxers are ready, and we have already paid travelling costs for those who will be coming from outside the province.”
On Monday, Booi’s legal team was locked in meetings with BSA on whether the show would go ahead.
Vabaza-Booi confirmed the meetings and said she would relay the outcome.
“I just came out of a meeting as I am speaking to you, with another one scheduled later.”
The show is scheduled to be topped by a tasty SA featherweight title eliminator between top-ranked contenders Bongani Fule of Makhanda and Jeff Magagane from Limpopo via Gauteng.
Fule, rated second, has set his sights on the SA title held by KwaZulu-Natal’s Lindelani Sibisi, even vacating his provincial belt.
But his national ambitions might go up in smoke if he loses to fourth-ranked Magagane, who is the former holder of the belt, which he surrendered to Nxarhuni’s Zolisa Batyi, who ceded it to Sibisi.
Magagane is yet to register a win since his second-round knockout loss to Batyi.
He subsequently got stopped by Portugal-based Angolan Pedro Manuel Gomes in Lisbon before drawing his last two bouts against Lindokuhle Khuzwayo and Namibian Tomas Shifiona.
Though Fule is unbeaten in seven bouts, Magagane represents a step up in class for him.
Duncan Village’s Simamkele Singile and Siphenathi Nobanda will be battling it out for Fule’s vacated provincial featherweight belt, though Awonke Tini is challenging the decision, insisting he is next in line for the title.
Singile’s lone blemish in four bouts was a controversial loss to former amateur star Amzolele Dyeyi, but he rebounded by beating Chumani Ngqeleni in the August tournament.
However, Tini argues that Singile’s last bout was in the junior featherweight division and he had been preparing to face Nobanda for the featherweight belt.
Nobanda is on a three-bout winless streak, losing to Michael Daries and Likho Sigaba in the bantamweight division before fighting to a draw against Mbulelo Gwabeni.
Sigaba, who has been waiting patiently for a shot at Landile Ngxeke’s SA bantamweight title, returns to action against Sonwabile Marhenene.
Also taking part in the tournament is junior lightweight knockout sensation Lonwabo Sizani, who will face off against Aphiwe Magobiyane.
Daily Dispatch
