Promoter pins hopes on Ngxaka, Cafu
Matiti had intended fighting for his boxers in Puerto Rico
Ayanda Matiti is pinning his hopes on Xaba Promotion’s boxers to justify his decision to miss the WBO Convention to make sure they deliver at his Battle of Nations tournament at East London’s International Convention Centre on Sunday.
Matiti was scheduled to attend the convention which runs from Monday until Friday in Puerto Rico where stakeholders argue for the case of their boxers to either move up the ratings or secure world title shots.
Matiti revealed that he had already made arrangements to argue the case of his boxer Landile Ngxaka and Phumelela Cafu, who feature in Sunday’s show.
“I hope Ngxaka and Cafu will not regret the decision to miss this convention,” he said.
“I had planned to go to Puerto Rico because that is where one can argue the case of boxers while also forging networks with stakeholders from other countries.”
The WBO has been relatively lukewarm in granting opportunities to SA boxers, with Zolani Tete remaining the only one who has enjoyed cordial relations with it.
However, one could argue that Tete’s situation was made easier because of his ties with English promoter Frank Warren, who manoeuvred him to win the bantamweight version of the sanctioning body in 2017.
This was after Tete beat Filipino Arthur Villanueva for the interim belt but was elevated to a full champion when the original belt holder Marlon Tapales of Philippines failed to make the weight for his stoppage win over Japanese Shohei Omori in the same weekend, rendering the belt vacant.
Tete occupies the third spot in the sanctioning body’s junior featherweight ratings.
However, another SA boxer, Yanga Sigqibo, has not been so lucky despite holding the WBO Intercontinental crown in the junior bantamweight division. Sigqibo was rated as high as the third spot and was inches close to fighting for a title eliminator, only to be moved down the pecking order, prompting him to dump the intercontinental belt in frustration.
Ngxaka will now contest for Sigqibo’s old vacated belt against Filipino Jayr Raquinel in Sunday’s main bout.
Matiti is confident that should Ngxaka win he will go as far as getting a title shot, unlike Sigqibo.
“This is why I wanted to go to the convention, but even if I could not we will ensure that Ngxaka gets his dues.”
Cafu, who already owns the WBA intercontinental title in the same division as Ngxaka, will take a stay-busy bout against Namibian Lazarus Namalambo which might have farreaching consequences for his world title quest.
Cafu occupies 15th spot in the WBA ratings and if he preserves his unbeaten fight record he will likely crack the rankings of other world bodies.