‘Chief’ is fired to fight on for more ring gems

Dejected boxing trainer Mzamo “Chief” Njekanye is not about to throw in the towel as he looks to unearth and crown more champions.

This even though he is still smarting from recently losing his prized asset Azinga Fuzile to Johannesburg.

Seeing a protégè, who is at the peak of his powers, jump ship may have deflated a lot of trainers but Mzamo says he is ready to produce another champion in Siphosethu Mvula.

Mvula will challenge Thompson Mokwana for the SA lightweight title in East London on October 21.

The card is expected to feature Fuzile who is now training at Colin Nathan’s HotBox gymnasium in Johannesburg.

While Njekanye would have ushered Fuzile to war, he will now leave that task to Nathan instead.

“But I will still be there to continue with my job of producing champions,” he said.

“I was born to do this and this time it will be Mvula’s turn to become a champion.”

While Mzamo is best known for moulding talent from an infant stage having done so with Fuzile and Xolisani Ndongeni before him, Mvula joined him when his career appeared to have regressed.

Mvula’s career began with a bang, winning the SA junior bantam weight title in only his seventh professional fight.

The win would prove to be his last moment in the limelight as his career suffered a downslide.

Rocked by stories of overweight, the 24-year-old Mvula moved up weight divisions with no success until he joined Njekanye’s Duncan Village Boxing Academy campaigning as a lightweight.

He started to hit the winning note as he climbed up the ratings towards a title held by Mokwana who ironically regained it after losing it to Ndongeni when Njekanye was in his corner. “Remember I took Ndongeni to this title against the very same Mokwana and now I will do it again,” he said.

“Those who thought I would be wallowing in self-pity better think again.”

Mvula is one of the talented Duncan Village boxers but that was overshadowed by his wayward lifestyle until he met Njekanye who is a strict disciplinarian.

I was born to do this and this time it will be his turn to become a champion