Bay boxer Nozipho Bell finds new home in East London
Frustrated Walmer township professional boxer Nozipho Bell has left the Bay for greener pastures and has found a new home at the East Londonbased Lukhanyo Boxing Club.
The Gompo-based boxing club is also the home of reigning SA female bantamweight champion Sharadene Fortuin.
Bell, who holds the SA junior-lightweight title, was stripped of her IBF intercontinental junior-lightweight title she won against Matshidiso Mokebisi in 2021.
The same year, the boxer was stripped of her WBF world title after failing to stage a mandatory title defence within the stipulated period.
Before the move to East* London, she was managed and trained by Mzwandile Sidina.
Bell, who last fought in December 2022, said it was a lack of fights that contributed to her decision to leave Gqeberha.
She will be managed and trained by Lunwabo “Lonkie” Witbooi, the son of Spokes Witbooi, the founder and owner of Lukhanyo Boxing Club.
“I am very happy with the decision I have taken to move to East London,” Bell said.
“The reason for my move is because I have struggled a lot here in Gqeberha, especially in 2023.
“I didn’t get a single fight the whole year, the only thing I got was promised, and on top of that, I lost my IBF title.
“In 2021, I lost my WBF title and that hurt me so much, and now again I was stripped of my IBF title and that makes me very sad.
“I am now only left with my SA title and it feels like I am on a merry-go-round, there is no growth career-wise.
“My dream is to be a world champion one day, but I feel like I am stuck in one place.
“So now I have moved to East London to try to make that dream a reality. Ever since I arrived here, I can already see where my future is heading.
“I have a pending fight, I have to defend my SA title against Bukiwe Nonina.
“That fight is due for April, so we are preparing for that now. The future is promising and I am happy where I am.”
Lukhanyo Boxing Club head trainer Witbooi said he was approached by a frustrated Bell to join his stable.
“She told me she has been struggling financially because she had not been making any money, yet she is a SA champion,” he said.
“She has been stripped of her world title due to being inactive, yet she had a manager, so she felt let down.
“She expressed that she would like to work with me to get her career back on track.”
Witbooi said it did not take him long to get Bell into the ring again. He managed to schedule a fight for February 17, which has since been postponed due to issues with Boxing SA and the National Promoters’ Association.