BSA reminds older boxers to undergo brain scans
Mthalane and Co face fitness tests
Current IBF International flyweight champion Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane is one of the many South African professional boxers who must undergo brains scans before being allowed to box.
This follows Boxing SA’s (BSA’s) advice from chief operations officer (COO) Cindy Nkomo that all licensed professional boxers who are 35 and above must go for brain scans. Mthalane is 35 years old and on the verge of being involved in an IBF world title fight.
The current champion Donnie Nietes will defend against No 1 contender Juan Carlos Reveco on Saturday.
Mthalane could be ordered to engage in a title elimination only after a scan test.
This is line with the Boxing Act No 11 of 2001 to ascertain the health status of boxers. At the age of 35 or above, boxers have been involved in many boxing matches.
But a brain scan is expensive, with some private hospitals charging between R7 000 and R20 000 for the procedure. Boxers do not have medical aid. In the past, when professional boxing was still independently run, boxers could have scans performed at general hospitals without charge.
The sport in South Africa is governed by the act of parliament.
BSA should arrange with general hospitals to help boxers with brain scans.
Nkomo said: “All licensees who have not renewed or did not follow the renewal process outlined above by March 31 will cease to exist as BSA licensees and no negotiations will be entered in this regard.
“All licensees – who intend to renew – must complete application forms which are available on [the] BSA website and are also obtainable from provincial managers.”
Licensees, said Nkomo, must then submit a completed form application together with proof of payment to their provincial managers of the region to which they belong.
She warned that no renewal applications should be submitted directly to BSA, in person or electronically, and that payments without completing and submitting a renewal application form will be considered non-compliant.
She said all current SA national and provincial title holders must renew their licenses because failure to do so by March 31 may result in them forfeiting their titles.
Meanwhile, IBF Inter-Continental super middleweight champion Vincent Feigenbutz stopped Ryno Liebenberg in the sixth round in Germany on Saturday night.