Boxing tourney flops

LIMPOPO boxing promoter Phathutshedzo Dongola has pleaded with all stakeholders to bear with him following his Friday night international championship tournament, which was a comedy of errors.

The box-and-dine tournament was sup- posed to be a historic event – the first tournament to feature WBA, IBF, WBO as well as IBO-sanctioned bouts – but a few things went wrong.

For starters, it ended around 2am on Saturday morning, and by that time the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Sports Arena in Seshego, outside Polokwane, was empty.

The bill featured fighters from Mexico, Argentina, Namibia and Zimbabwe against South Africans.

In the main bout between South Africa’s IBO welterweight champion Tsiko Mulovhedzi and Jesus Gurrola from Mexico, the national anthems were sung twice – before and after the fight. Flags of the two countries were not visible, as is the norm in such fights.

Dongola said: “I plead with all stakeholders [BSA, SABC, provincial government and the general public] to bear with me. I know the tournament did not live up to expectations due to some logistical problems. That will not happen again.

“National flags were there in the main bout but were too small.”

Boxing SA chairwoman Muditambi Ravele said: “I hope the issue around the singing of the national anthem twice won’t happen again. ”

Mulovhedzi put in a workmanlike performance in front of his 104year-old father to retain his title on points.

Gideon Buthelezi defeated Diego Luis Pichardo from Argentina over 12 rounds to retain his IBO junior bantamweight strap. –