Fuzile s ring ’ return is KO-ed by Covid-19
The Eastern Cape boxing fraternity is in a state of shock at the cancellation of the eagerly awaited return to the ring of golden boy Azinga Fuzile.
Scheduled to be held at Orient Theatre in East London under the banner of Rumble Africa Promotions (Rap) on Sunday, the tournament was to be the first in the province after lockdown restrictions were eased by the government.
However, only a day before the premedical examination of boxers yesterday, and with many already on their way to East London, Buffalo City Metro mayor Xola Pakati said a decision had been taken to suspend all activities in community halls.
This is even though the show was going to be held without spectators in line with Covid-19 protocols.
Orient Theatre is one of BCM ’ s facilities and Pakati attributed the suspension to the resurgence of Covid-19 infections.
Rap CEO Nomfesane Nyathela, in the middle of ferrying boxers from East London airport yesterday, said they even attempted to move the event to the Selborne tennis court, which had hosted a number of tournaments before.
“But logistically everything was a nightmare,” she said.
Fuzile, who was set to fight unbeaten Cape Town boxer Lunga Sitemele, was so distraught he suggested the tournament be moved to Port Elizabeth, where he beat Mexican Romulo Koasicha at Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton in April last year.
“We told him it would be impossible because Nelson Mandela Bay has an even bigger challenge of soaring Covid-19 cases,” Nyathela said.
Pakati did his best on national radio to justify the decision to cancel the tournament, even while confirming funeral services were exempt from the suspension. “The organisers can move the tournament to a private venue if they so wish but the metro’s command council took a decision to suspend sport activities in our facilities,” he said.
Nyathela said her promotional outfit had incurred huge losses for travelling and accommodation of boxers, trainers, managers and ring officials.
Purses of boxers alone were estimated to be around R700,000.
Some flight tickets could not be cancelled, hence I am still picking up Fuzile and other boxers from the airport as we speak.”
Rap used the opportunity to extend the contracts of some of its boxers based in Johannesburg, including Fuzile and Ronald Malindi, who was to defend his SA bantamweight title against Luzuko Siyo in the tournament.
“Yes, we decided to use the opportunity of their being here to extend our contracts.”
The cancellation of the tournament took everyone by surprise, with even Boxing SA acting CEO Cindy Nkomo being caught off guard.
“Who cancelled what and why, ” she asked when approached for comment.
Nyathela could not say if the tournament would be rescheduled.
However, she said boxers would be paid their 10% as per BSA regulations when a tournament is cancelled.