Rumble Africa still hopes to produce future IBF champs
Ntuthu glad for being recognised Comrades will not refund registration fees for the race
Rumble Africa Promotions may have not succeeded in its quest to see Azinga “Golden Boy” Fuzile fight for the IBF junior lightweight title, but promoter Thembalethu Ntuthu has not abandoned that pursuit.
Fuzile lost his elimination fight to Russian Shavkat Rakhimov. Ntuthu says he still believes that some of the boxers from his stable will become IBF champions.
He made this known in a recorded speech thanking the New York-based boxing body for voting his company as the IBF Continental Africa’s busiest promoter in 2019.
The announcement was made last week. It would have happened at its convention that was scheduled to take place in California this month, but the event was postponed to next year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“This is the second award from the IBF in a row [won it in 2018] and we are humbled,” said Ntuthu.
“We are grateful and humbled by the award. We wish to thank the IBF [for affording us] the opportunity to stage the IBF junior lightweight elimination fight between Azinga and Rakhimov.”
It took place at Orient Theatre in September and IBF president Darryl Peoples was ringside guest. Ntuthu added: “We’d wish to thank the IBF for rating a number of boxers from the African continent, South Africa and, most importantly, from our company.”
One of them is 21-year-old sensational Sive “Special One” Nontshinga, who holds the IBF junior flyweight title.
Ntuthu said he would produce IBF champions in the future.
“We would also want as well as the entire boxing community in
South Africa and those outside our country to benefit out of our relationship with the IBF,” he said of the boxing body, which has a rich history with South Africa.
The list of South Africans who have held IBF titles includes Welcome Ncita, Phillip Holiday, Vuyani Bungu, Mbulelo Botile, Brian Mitchell, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and Noni Tenge.
CEO Nomfesane Nyathela said: “These are the best news we could get in this misery of the Coronavirus. We’ve worked hard to organise fights, but we never thought we could get an award for doing what we enjoy, and actually do so twice in a row.
“This honour underscores our reputation as an international promotion company, and it motivates us to work even harder. The award is a testament to the quality of our bouts, and we want to thank our matchmaker Luyanda Kana.”
IBF flyweight champ Moruti Mthalane was honoured with the special achievement award while the IBF Continental Africa junior lightweight fight between new champ Bulana Khanyile and Phila Mpontshane was voted IBF Continental Africa’s fight of the year.
South Africa’s ultra marathon runners are up in arms over what they perceive to be daylight robbery by two of the country’s major races.
Upon cancelling this year’s race due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) went the same route as their Two Oceans Marathon counterparts by declaring that there will be no refunding of the registration fees.
“Every South African entrant [including the 485 who entered during the recent substitution period] will not be refunded their entry fee but will instead receive their Comrades2020 mrsp-sport runners T-shirt and goodie bag, as well as Comrades badge and flash,” CMA chairperson Cherryl Winn said in a statement announcing the cancellation.
CMA announced it would defer foreign entrants’ registrations to next year, a decision that has left many fuming.
“It is disgusting what they are doing,” said Lauren Mtshali, a multiple Comrades silver