Mtya makes surprise turn
LOYISO Mtya, who quit Boxing SA (BSA) amid allegations of corruption, took on the role of announcer at yesterd weigh-in at the East London International Conference Centre.
But he said there was nothing untoward about his cameo role, which involved calling the names of the fighters, four of whom will compete in two world title bouts to be televised on SABC tonight.
He was roped in partly because his son, Mbuso, was an assistant trainer of IBO juniorbantamweight champion Lwandile Sityatha, one of the headline boxers tonight.
“I resigned from BSA not from boxing,” said 62-year-old Mtya, a former SA middleweight champion. “We actually approached representatives of BSA about what I was going to do today.”
No licence is needed to announce boxers at weigh-ins, although Mtya has applied for a trainer’s licence.
He is already training a number of fighters, including former IBF juniorchampion Zolani Tete, on a consultative basis, but he will be able to man their corners only after BSA approves his paperwork.
Meanwhile, the normally taciturn Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka, the IBO welterweight champion, warned challenger Tsiko “Cruel Junior” Mulovhedzi that talk was cheap.
He was reacting to trash-talk earlier in the week by Mulovhedzi, promising to end Funeka’s illustrious career.
“I don’’t like to talk but rather prefer to do my job inside the ring,” said Funeka, who described Mulovhedzi as still an amateur compared to what he had done as a boxer.
“He has been talking a lot, promising to send me to retirement and I am forced to respond. This will be one of my easiest fights. I will not use even half of my experience to defeat him.”
The 37-year-old Mdantsane-based champion, who packs a mean right hand, has left 29 of his 36 victims gasping for air. Three of his fights have ended in draws.
Mulovhedzi, 25, the reigning South African champion from Thohoyandou in Limpopo, stuck to his guns.
“Once I touch Ali with my right hand, he will feel that he has been hit and it will be a matter of time before I finish him off,” said the challenger, who has recorded five stoppages in nine wins against seven defeats and three draws.
The main bout will see Sityatha defending against Gideon “Hard Core” Buthelezi.
These bouts, to be staged in celebration of Nelsons Mandela as an aspirant boxer, will be televised on SABC2 from 9.30pm.
Two national championship bouts are also on the card. IBO fight commissioner in Africa, Len Hunt, supervised the weigh-in that was attended by Buffalo City Metro mayor Alfred MtProteas si.