Welcome in centre of storm
Trainer needs licence to man Fortuin’s corner
THE highly anticipated ring return of the region’s most talented female boxer Sharoddene Fortuin has been plunged in dispute after news surfaced that her trainer, boxing legend Welcome Ncita will not be allowed in her corner.
Fortuin makes her return to the ring when she takes on Gabriela Bouvier of Uruguay in a WBA international junior-bantamweight title clash at Orient Theatre this Saturday.
The fight will be organised by TZ Promotions as part of the Buffalo City Metro funding.
Other bouts on the bill include a potential explosive SA junior-bantamweight title defence by Lindile Tshemese against Mthatha’s Athi Dumezweni.
There will be an appearance by another local female boxing sensation Leighandre Jegels, who will take on Brazilian Micaela Joana Lagos in a flyweight duel.
But the spotlight is on Fortuin, who produced a breathtaking performance in her last bout when she outslugged Brazilian Simone Duarte in June.
Fortuin had Ncita in her corner when she announced her arrival at the world-class boxing scene with an impressive win over Duarte.
But it has since emerged that Ncita actually manned the corner without a licence from Boxing SA.
To make matters worse, Ncita also did not have permission to be in Siyabonga Siyo’s corner when he lost to Hekkie Budler in Johannesburg on October 22.
While other provinces are lax to apply the rules, the Eastern Cape is renowned for its stringent measures demanding that a trainer should be licensed before he/she can man a boxer’s corner.
Yesterday, BSA-EC manager Phakamile Jacobs was embroiled in a heated argument with TZP boss Thando Zonke about Ncita’s non-licensing with Jacobs allegedly threatening to ban the former world champion from Fortuin’s corner.
Jacobs refused to confirm if he would take any action against Ncita insisting that the decision would be taken by the head office.
“The issue is beyond my control now, the head office should handle it,” said Jacobs.
Zonke also confirmed that he and Jacobs spoke about the matter.
“Yes we spoke about it and I am busy sorting out as we speak,” Zonke said without saying how he was sorting Ncita’s non-licensing.
It is yet to be seen if Ncita would be able to be licensed for this current financial year ending next March as the licensing window has long been closed. Asked how Ncita was allowed to man Fortuin’s corner against Duarte, Zonke said there was a special arrangement without divulging what it was. Ncita declined to comment. Despite this mishap, Fortuin sounded confident of beating Bouvier on Saturday.
“I am ready to show the people that what happened in June was no fluke,” she said.
“There is no stopping me now and I am destined for big things with Bra Thando next to me.”
Saturday’s big tournament is part of three funded by the metro starting on Friday with golden boy Azinga Fuzile taking on Georgian Giorgi Gochisvili and Sunday topped by Bongani Silila defending his SA junior-flyweight belt against Luyanda Nkwankwa.