Dispute over SA title bout

A DISPUTE has erupted over the selection of Mthathabased boxer Siphamandla Baleni to fight for the vacant SA mini-flyweight title despite losing his last bout.

This has caused his planned clash against Lonwabo Roboshi, scheduled for this Sunday, to be pushed back by a week.

Baleni is slated to contest for the vacant title relinquished by stablemate Simpiwe Konkco, who will challenge Hekkie Budler for the WBA and IBO mini-flyweight titles at Emperors Palace in Gauteng on September 19.

However, the boxer’s selection has sparked a row with the camp of Mdantsane fighter Daluxolo Mangcontywa who feels he should get the opportunity.

Mangcotywa’s promoter Ayanda Matiti confirmed that he wrote to Boxing SA challenging the decision prompting the regulatory body’s approval and sanctioning committee chairman Peter Ngatane to disqualify Baleni.

This has strained

relations between Matiti and Baleni’s promoter Andile Sidinile who has scheduled the fight to top his eightbout show.

Sidinile originally benefited from the situation when his boxer Siyabonga Siyo was handed a hotly disputed decision over Baleni last December, when the Mthatha boxer was still under Mamali Promotions.

Baleni and Konkco have since joined Sidinile’s Sijuta Promotions.

Sidinile is understood to be willing to match Mangcotywa against Baleni in a fight appealing more to local boxing fans, with a Mdantsane boxer, as opposed to Uitenhage’s Roboshi.

However, no fight contract has been sent to Mangcotywa to sign and this has caused Matiti to apply to BSA to be given the rights to stage the vacant title.

Sidinile and Matiti are neck-neck racing to entice SABC to televise their tournaments scheduled for July 24 and July 31 respectively in East London.