Still no fists of fury for homeboys

SOME local boxing fans are disappointed that once again the highly anticipated clash between former Duncan Village homeboys Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni and Xolani Mcotheli did not pan out.

This after fight promoter Andile Sidinile of Sijuta Promotions opted to approach Limpopo-born Johannesburg boxer Jasper Seroka to face Ndongeni for the vacant IBO lightweight title, scheduled to be held at Selborne Park Tennis Stadium on November 28.

The tournament, details which will be unpacked in a presser at the fight venue this morning, will be topped by former WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka against Colombian Rudolfo Puente.

Besides featuring a crowd-puller in Ndongeni, that forced the organisers to seek a venue bigger than the Orient Theatre, fans believe that had Sidinile pitted Ndongeni against Mcotheli the magnitude of the fight would have gone through the roof.

Instead he opted for Seroka after the withdrawal of original opponent Juan Pablo Sanchez of Mexico.

Seroka has never fought in the lightweight division but holds the SA crown in the lower junior-lightweight division.

In contrast, Mcotheli is the reigning IBO international champion in the lightweight division to which he moved after his stoppage defeat by former two-time world champion Malcolm Klassen.

Since moving up a division Mcotheli has won his two fights in impressive fashion, scoring fourth-round stoppage victories over both Vusumzi Tyatyeka and Sibongaseni Dlamini.

But Sidinile has dismissed the credentials of Mcotheli, saying he is not yet world-class material.

“Remember Mcotheli lost to Seroka and since then he has not done anything to warrant a world title challenge,” he said.

This has been vehemently disputed by Mcotheli’s promoter Ayanda Matiti, who insisted that the IBO would have readily approved his charge to face Ndongeni.

Mcotheli lost to Seroka when he was campaigning in the junior-lightweight division, but he has showed renewed vigour since moving up a division.

Matiti, who used to promote Ndongeni, could not help but draw comparisons with a common opponent of Ndongeni and Mcotheli – Tyatyeka.

The pair were once earmarked for a clash before Ndongeni was succeeded by Seroka as junior-lightweight champion.

Ndongeni opted to vacate the title and move to lightweight leaving Mcotheli and Seroka to vie for the vacant crown.