XP boss not fazed by ban of trainer
Unlicensed Ncita barred from manning corner ahead of world title clash
The technical team revamp of the boxers aligned to Xaba Promotions will be put to the test when they go to big fights without new recruit Welcome Ncita on Friday.
This is after it was revealed that Ncita was not licensed as a trainer with Boxing SA and as such he is not allowed to man the corner of Yanga Sigqibo during the WBO intercontinental junior-bantamweight title fight against Nicaraguan Keyvin Lara at Orient Theatre.
Ncita will also not be in Nhlanhla Ngamntwini’s corner when he takes on Mfundo Gwayana in a bantamweight duel.
Ncita was recruited to train Sigqibo and Ngamntwini with their original trainer Ben Mtyaliselo shown the door.
It is not the first time the former world champion has been roped in by Xaba Promotions having worked the corner of their former boxer Lwandile Sityatha previously.
This time the corner manning duties will be left to Miniyakhe Sityatha, younger brother of Lwandile, who has just been promoted to the chief trainer position after the resignation of Makwedinana Matiti for unspecified reasons.
Despite the huge task lying ahead for Sityatha, who will be engaged in his most crucial fight when he plots Sigqibo’s win, XP boss Ayanda Matiti allayed any fears during the premedical of the tournament at Mdantsane fitness gym on Tuesday.
“Having Welcome train the boxers and not be in their corners during fights is not the first time,” said Matiti.
“We had a similar arrangement before with Lwandile and it worked. ”
However Matiti seemed to have forgotten that Ncita was actually physically present at Lwandile Sityatha’s fight.
While the intrigue will be centred on whether XP has gambled by ditching trainers who have worked with the boxers, the five title bouts show will present a platform to make history when 19-year-old Ntlantla Tyirha attempts to equal an almost 70-year-old record set by Vic Toweel of winning a national title in only his fourth professional fight.
Tyirha will challenge 31-yearold champion Bongani Silila for the SA junior-flyweight crown.
Silila appeared to be agitated when he was referred to as a veteran, insinuating that he would be easy pickings for the teen who like him also hails from NU7 in Mdantsane.
“I do not know what makes people think that I am old but I will prove them wrong in the ring,” said Silila.
All the boxers bar the Nicaragua Lara were present at the premedical, including perennial Mexican Ulises Lara who will face Athi Dumezweni for the IBO Intercontinental junior-bantamweight title.
It is the third time Lara visits these shores, having previously beaten two local boxers, Ngamntwini and Thembelani Nxoshe.
Dumezweni, however, vowed to stop the bad run of local boxers.
Mdantsane hero and percieved spent force Nkosinathi Joyi also expressed readiness to breath life into his career at the expense of Mpho Seforo whom he meets for the ABU juniorflyweight title.