Bushby thrown lifeline to save flagging career

EAST London white boxing hope Giovanni Bushby will need to prove he is still destined to achieve big things in boxing by beating KwaZulu-Natal challenger Lee Dyer.

The pair clash at Orient Theatre underneath the IBO mini-flyweight title showdown between Mdantsane hero Nkosinathi Joyi against Simpiwe Konkco.

The tournament promoted by Golden Gloves Promotions, in association with SuperSport, will pay homage to boxing legend Mzi Mnguni.

But while the spotlight will be on the main bout and Mnguni, Bushby will be virtually fighting to stay relevant after a disappointing draw with unheralded Alfonzo Tissen at the same venue this past April.

After successfully transitioning from kick-boxing to pugilism with commendable ease, Bushby has suddenly regressed just as top promoters are starting to give him opportunities.

For instance, GGP boss Rodney Berman was so impressed, he gave him a chance to appear in his tournament, in which Bushby put in a gutsy yet losing effort against Dowayne Combrink.

But Berman did not give up on Bushby and gave the white hope a rematch, which scored a draw.

As if that was not enough, Sijuta Promotions also brought him back against Tissen but Bushby underperformed, sparking concerns he may have reached the end.

With Boy Boy Mpulampula barking instructions at him when he faced Tissen, Bushby hardly lived up to his “Siyasebenza” moniker (loosely translated ‘we are working’), as he at times displayed a defeatist attitude, especially when nailed by a body punch.

But Berman has decided to give him another opportunity to fight at home, although he will have a formidable foe in Dyer, who is fresh from dethroning Mdantsane-based DRC native Balemo Weliya of his SA super-middleweight crown in Queenstown two months ago.

Aware of the importance of the fight, Bushby has decided to go back to former world champion Vuyani Bungu, who was able to get the best out of him.

Speaking of the training, Bungu said the old “Siyasebenza” was gradually returning.

To up the stakes, Berman has put the African Boxing Union crown up as a carrot for the winner, meaning a WBC rating will also be up for grabs.