Rumble Africa Promotions back in action despite Covid-19 uncertainty

All boxers fighting under the banner of multiple award-winning Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) must be celebrating as the East London outfit has decided to make an about-turn from its original decision of not staging any boxing tournaments in 2020.

RAP CEO Nomfesane Nyatela said in August that they were not going to stage a tournament any time soon due to the coronavirus.

But the 40th birthday celebration of RAP chair Thembalethu Ntuthu has prompted them to change their minds.

Nyatela said Ntuthu — who turned 40 on Saturday — met with her and suggested they include a tournament as part of his celebrations to take place in November.

“I gave him conditions that if the country is on level 1 of the Covid-19 restrictions then we can do it because probably fans will be allowed then,” Nyatela said.

“We agreed for November 29, but then again I thought it will be unfair for our boxers to sweat for 11 weeks for nothing if fans are still not allowed and we cancel the tournament. So we will go ahead with or without fans.”

She said the company’s Azinga “Golden Boy” Fuzile would make a comeback since tasting defeat after 14 straight wins to Russian Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in September 2019.

However, Nyatela would not let the cat out of the bag as yet regarding Fuzile’s opponent.

Clearly it will be a local opponent because international flights still remain prohibited. When Fuzile lost to Rakhimov, the 24-year-old left hander from Duncan Village, whose career is guided in Johannesburg by accomplished trainer Colin “Nomakanjani” Nathan, was bidding for the No 1 spot in the IBF rankings.

Nyatela said the line-up for the tournament would be concluded in due time, but she made it clear that Fuzile and Luyanda “Pretty Boy” Ntwanambi would definitely appear on the card. —