Boxing SA intervenes in big tournament row
Jacobs will be in charge of show, including weigh-in on Sunday
Boxing SA has confirmed that its Eastern Cape provincial manager Phakamile Jacobs would be in charge of the weigh-in and tournament of Xaba Promotions (XP) which takes place at ICC in East London on Monday.
Eyebrows were raised when Jacobs did not conduct the premedical of the tournament this week due to alleged run-ins with XP.
Instead it was conducted by Allen Matakane, raising questions about whether Jacobs would be sidelined for the weigh-in on Sunday.
Jacobs confirmed that he had not conducted the premedical because of an objection by XP. This has caused consternation in local boxing circles, with some promoters questioning the decision of BSA to bow to a promoter’s demands.
Thando Zonke of the Eastern Cape Boxing Promoters Association confirmed that the structure had been approached to intervene in the fracas. “This whole thing is up to BSA to resolve,” Zonke said.
It is the second time that Jacobs has not presided over a XP tournament, although BSA boss Tsholofelo Lejaka insisted that the midweek incident was unrelated to the September tournament which Eastern Cape provincial manager also did not handle.
“Remember in September Jacobs was in Botswana hence he could not preside over the XP tournament,” Lejaka said.
“But I can assure you that he will preside over the weigh-in and the tournament.”
The tournament will feature two world title bouts, topped by Gideon Buthelezi defending his IBO junior bantamweight title against US-based Romanian Alexandru Marin.
Buthelezi, of Johannesburg, has been preparing for the fight under the tutelage of former world champion Welcome Ncita in East London.
In a radio interview he showered Ncita with praises and promised to unleash his fury against the challenger.
In his last fight in July at the same venue, he blasted Mexican Adrian Jeminez out in round one.
The second world title clash will see Mdantsane veteran Nkosinathi Joyi making a second attempt to regain the IBO mini-flyweight title when he faces Filipino Joey Canoy.
Other bouts will be a highly anticipated clash between NU8 Mdantsane boxers Sibusiso Bandla and Siyakholwa Kuse for the SA mini-flyweight crown.
Athenkosi Dumezweni and Sabelo Ngebiyana will also be in action in separate bouts.