Call for one big tribute push for Mzi

Mcotheli while preparing for his unseating of Aphiwe Mboyiya for the SA junior-lightweight title in December last year.

Mnguni has been pleading for assistance to organise a major boxing tournament featuring both Mcotheli and Mpontshane through his Eyethu Promotions to bid farewell from boxing.

And Sikonyela feels the plea should not fall on deaf ears considering Mnguni’s contributions to boxing.

“I can tell you having that tournament with Bra Mzi watching from his wheelchair would be both significant for his health as well as serve as a historic occasion,” he said.

“I hope his former partners such as SuperSport could come and assist him in this noble idea. Even the provincial government as well as local municipality could come and officially bid farewell to the legend instead of talking about him when he is gone.”

Mnguni’s friend Rodney Berman organised a tribute tournament for him last November where Simpiwe Konkco beat Nkosinathi Joyi for the IBO mini-flyweight crown.

While the tournament was well organised, Sikonyela feels it did not quite fit as an official farewell.

“Look, Bra Mzi has his own promotional company which was not involved in what Rodney did last year. Yes it was a good gesture by Rodney but the government was not involved so was Eyethu Promotions. So it cannot be considered as a farewell tournament to Mnguni.”

Mnguni became the first boxing trainer to produce a world champion when he guided Welcome Ncita to winning the IBF junior-featherweight crown in 1990.

He also remains the only one to guide a boxer to defending a world title a record 13 times when he helped Vuyani Bungu to retain the title previously held by Ncita.

Until he was overtaken by the late Nick Durandt, he held a record for producing the most number of world champions in the land.