‘I’m no bad boy, just a fighter hungry for title’
PHILA Mpontshane insists that he is not a bad boy but a boxer destined for big things.
This despite him being involved in a stabbing incident, when he allegedly stabbed his stablemate Asiphwe Tshili with a broken bottle after their training session at Eyethu boxing club early this year.
Tshili opened a case with police against Mpontshane for the stabbing.
Speaking ahead of his highly anticipated SA junior lightweight title challenge against reigning champion Aphiwe Mboyiya, Mpontshane said he was focused on winning the title.
The pair will clash as a co-feature to the IBF Intercontinental junior bantamweight title defence by Mdantsane’s Makazole Tete against Filipino Jonas Sultan in a Xaba Promotions and Events (XPE) show at Mdantsane Indoor Centre this evening.
While there have been several storylines to the tournament including the decision by Buffalo City Metro not to fund it leading to a court action by XPE, Mpontshane’s challenge for the title is receiving equal attention.
The stabbing incident was never reported to Boxing SA, with the regulatory body’s provincial manager Phakamile Jacobs arguing that no action could be taken against Mpontshane when nothing was reported.
Now Mpontshane gets the biggest fight of his life when some feel that he should be serving a suspension.
“I do not want to speak about the incident because it is behind me now,” he said.
“All I am looking for is to become the champion and fulfil my dream. But I am not [a] bad person or unruly boxer regardless of what others may think.”
Mpontshane’s challenge to Mboyiya is ironic as he will now fight in a tournament organised by Tshili’s promoter XPE.
After leaving Eyethu, Tshili returned to Xaba boxing club, whose boxers are promoted by XPE.
XPE boss Ayanda Matiti says the stabbing incident could not stand in the way of a potentially good fight between Mboyiya and Mpontshane.
“It is a matter that should have been handled by relevant structures,” he said.
“I am a promoter and my duty is to organise fights the fans want. The fans have asked for this fight and we are giving it to them.”
But one would have expected XPE to refuse to give Mpontshane the fight in light of what he did to Tshili, especially as he is not even a mandatory challenger, meaning Mboyiya is not obliged to defend against him.
“You must not forget that Tshili was not with us when the incident happened so we could not hijack it based on him rejoining us,” he said, adding that Mpontshane and Mboyiya would not be fighting with knives but gloves tonight.