Bulana determined to rise again
East London boxer resolute in quest to win second national title on Friday
The shenanigans Scenery Park boxer Khanyile Bulana has had to endure over the past year will not deter him in his quest to win a second national title.
This was said by his manager, Kholisile “KC” Cengani, before his charge’s SA junior-lightweight title challenge against Lunga Sitemele at the Sunningdale Sports Complex in Cape Town on Friday.
Bulana has not fought for more than a year since he suffered a controversial first-round knockout loss to Italian Michael Magnesi in an IBO title challenge in Italy.
Bulana was floored by Magnesi and the fight was waved off though he beat the referee’s count, which was conducted in Italian.
After the loss, he returned to Cengani’s stable from Colin Nathan’s Hotbox gymnasium, where he had prepared for the fight.
Attempts to return to the ring fizzled out, with a proposed bout against Mfusi Maxhayi failing to take place due to a misunderstanding between Maxhayi and Tewo Promotions.
Bulana’s inactivity led to him being removed from the ratings when his shot at Sitemele had already been approved.
This gave Sitemele’s handlers an excuse to decline to defend against him, arguing that their boxer could not fight an unrated boxer.
However, it later transpired that the omission was due to miscommunication between the ratings and sanctioning committee, leading to Bulana’s reinstatement.
Cengani said he was aware of the obstacles that preceded the fight, but had told his boxer to focus.
“A lot has happened since this fight was announced, but we remained committed to the job at hand,” he said.
“From Bulana’s removal from the ratings to Sitemele refusing to fight him on the basis that he was not rated.
“Remember this fight was supposed to take place in October, but then it was moved to this Friday and all were forces attempting to take us off our game.”
Cengani’s top boxers have suffered losses lately, including lightweight Aphiwe Mboyiya, who was knocked out by Khaya Busakhwe after losing a title challenge to Tshifiwa Munyai, and bantamweight Siphanathi Nobanda, who suffered a stoppage loss to Michael Daries.
However, Cengani vowed that Bulana would change all that on Friday.
“We have been preparing for this fight for a while and Bulana is super confident even though we know it will not be easy as we will be fighting in enemy territory,” he said. Sitemele is one the few champions based in Cape Town, though he hails from Dordrecht in the Eastern Cape.
He won the title with an upset victory over Sibusiso Zingange, who had ended Mdantsane boxer Phila Mpontshane’s reign.