IBF honour for East London boxing
Duncan Village star Fuzile, Rumble Africa Promotions reap rewards
An East London boxing trio has swept the stakes at the IBF Africa, Middle East and Persian Gulf by walking away with major accolades.
Leading the pack, was Duncan Village star Azinga Fuzile who was bestowed with the most active champion award.
Fuzile, 22, holds the IBF regional title in the junior lightweight division.
Not to be outdone, his promoter, Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP), was honoured as the most active promoter for 2018.
The honour rewarded the determination RAP has shown to keep the national boxing flag flying high with high-quality bouts.
The award is surprisingly the first for the promotional outfit despite their history of organising top shows in SA.
Among their assets is Fuzile, who was also bestowed with the boxer of the year award by IBF Africa.
Comprising Africa, Middle East and Persian Gulf, the continental IBF – headed by Tanzanian Onesimo Ngowi – is possibly the biggest region of the sanctioning world body.
RAP organised five IBF-sanctioned tournaments with Fuzile fighting in four of them.
“We are excited by this honour,” said RAP co-ordinator Mfesi Nyathela.
“To think that we have finally been recognised despite organising our tournaments without any backing is a major achievement for us.”
RAP is not reliant on government funding to organise tournaments.
It has struggled to convince broadcasters to come on board despite consistently drawing full houses.
Despite these stumbling blocks, the promoters have managed to take boxers such as Fuzile from obscurity and turn them into stars.
While RAP has focused on making its mark in the game, it is yet to win a national award although the promoters are big favourites to do so in 2019.
“If we do not win anything at home this time around, I do not know what else we will need to do,” added Nyathela.
Fuzile, who holds the IBF Africa junior lightweight crown – a belt he defended four times, has scaled the ratings of the IBF up to ninth spot. Nyathela said their mission was to take Fuzile to a shot at a world title in 2019.
“That is our goal and then the book we have been writing about Fuzile would be complete.”
Other SA boxing stakeholders who were also honoured, include matchmaker Luyanda Kana for his sterling work in providing balanced and entertaining bouts.
Fuzile’s new manager, Colin Nathan, was the recipient of the manager of the year award for his role in managing his boxers and steering them in IBF-sanctioned bouts.
Besides Fuzile, Nathan also manages IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane and IBF Africa featherweight champion Lerato Dlamini.