Komanisi taunts Fuzile to face him
Matiti eager to give his charge what he wants Building blocks in place for Aiba
THE camp of Lusanda Komanisi has confirmed that it has submitted a challenge for him to challenge Azinga Fuzile in a mother of all boxing battles.
Xaba Promotions and Events boss Ayanda Matiti said Komanisi with whom he has reconciled after a fallout wanted the fight and as his promoter he had decided to act on his wishes.
“As we speak I am submitting a challenge for Komanisi for the SA featherweight title,” he said.
Komanisi, who has been blighted by inactivity returned to action last week to knock out Thelo Dithebe in two rounds.
By winning the fight he has since assumed to the mandatory status for the SA title held by Fuzile.
After the fight Komanisi who is now under the tutelage of Sean Smith in Johannesburg publicly challenged Fuzile to a showdown.
“I am back in the featherweight division where I am now the number one contender for Azinga, so let us do it,” he screamed.
“Azinga's fans have been calling my name and I am saying here I am. Let us do it.
“I am going to prove a point that Fuzile (whose achievements earned him BSA 2016 male prospect of the year award) is not what people make him to be. Azinga has never been tested.”
While the magnitude of the fight cannot be disputed, there is a growing concern that the bout will serve little or no purpose to the two boxers.
Komanisi held the title before relinquishing it after winning the IBO world crown which has since been stripped from him due to inactivity.
Local boxing fans feel he should pursue international stardom than going back to the national title he once held.
Matiti agrees with that notion but admitted that he has a burning ambition to organise a fight that will draw 10 000 spectators.
“We are not really interested in the national title but I think a catchweight bout between Fuzile and Komanisi would do wonders to the image of boxing in the land,” he said.
It is not yet clear if Fuzile’s camp is interested in the fight with his promoter Rumble Africa Promotion failing to return questions at the time of going to print.
Fuzile is a boxing phenomenon who won the SA title in only his fifth professional fight when he dethroned favoured Macbute Sinyabi in fight organised by XPE in September last year.
Komanisi also knocked out Sinyabi in five rounds to win the vacant IBO crown previously held by Simpiwe Vetyeka.
“Macbute could not stand six rounds with me. I am going to take that boy (Fuzile) deep in the sea and see if he can swim.
“You know names of Tshifhiwa Munyai, Simpiwe Vetyeka and Thabo Sonjica have been mentioned as my potential opponents.
“How I wish there was a promoter with a financial muscle to do a featherweight Super 8 Last Man Standing and feature all these guys so that people get to see the best featherweight in the country now. I don't mean to undermine these guys but I am just being factual. I am the best.”
The 21-year-old left-handed fighter from Duncan Village – whose awesome skills are polished by BSA 2016 trainer of the year Mzamo “Chief” Njekanye – boasts a clean slate of seven wins.
Since beating Sinyabi, Fuzile has added the WBC youth title and the IBF intercontinental crown. WORLD amateur boxing action finally touched down to East London when the amateur body kickstarted the Year of Africa (YoA) programme.
This when International Amateur Boxing Association (Aiba) officials conducted coaching clinics for referees and judges at Gcobani Primary School in NU8 Mdantsane this week.
The programme which comprises other sub-programmes is a landmark initiative within Aiba’s development programme and a flagship legacy project for the organisation, providing an all-in-one solution on a continental scale that aims to promote boxing at all levels.
Visitors from 54 national federations in the continent converge in the city to undergo workshops and courses as part of the programme.
With southern region countries such as Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique just to mention a few, the initiative is expected to leave the continent’s boxing with a tangible legacy for its administration and preparation.
The programme is expected to boost continental boxing in major international championships such as the world amateur championships set for Germany and Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
The embedded Gloves Up programme focusing on grassroots development of future boxers, coaches, the project, serves as an entry point into Aiba’s established certification courses, and has been designed to activate Africa’s pool of potential technical and boxing talent.
It is also targeting those seeking greater involvement in the sport and will help to clarify the route for each area of expertise.
SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) president Andile Mofu is ecstatic about the ability of the city to host YoA programme after it was first hosted by Togo.
This programme will also serve as a platform to aggressively brand the Eastern Cape province, particularly BCM as host city popularly referred to as a Mecca of Boxing, promote social cohesion and nation-building.
“Sanabo is delighted to welcome participants from our neighbouring countries as well, making this a historical event especially held in the birth month of struggle and keen boxer himself, late former president Nelson Mandela. — DDR