Boxing returns to Mthatha

Black Magic behind SA junior welterweight title fight between Siseko ‘Majayivana’ Makeleni and Dlomo to celebrate Mandela’s birthday

I keep saying when you fight in your opponent’s backyard you become a victim in every sense of the word

With Nelson Mandela Bay having paved the way by committing to support boxing, other provincial municipalities are under pressure to follow suit, with promoters intensifying plans to revive the sport in their areas.

One such promoter is Xolani Mbotya, who trades under Black Magic Promotions in the Mthatha area.

Mbotya has been a lone trailblazer in and around Mthatha, but, like his peers in other areas, Covid-19 dealt him a low blow.

His last tournament was in November 2019, when he staged double continental title bouts featuring Mthatha-born boxers Bangile Nyangani and Sikho Nqothole, who scored resounding stoppage wins against Tanzanian opponents Jemsi Kibazange and Selamani Bengaiza, respectively.

Black Magic will return when it organises the SA junior welterweight title fight between Mthatha’s Siseko “Majayivana” Makeleni and reigning champion Prince Dlomo.

The show is tentatively scheduled to form part of late statesman Nelson Mandela’s birthday celebrations in July.

It will be the first time Black Magic stages a national title and the magnitude of the fight is expected to convince the OR Tambo municipality to come on board.

“We want to provide a platform for Mthatha boxers to fight at home and with support from the municipality we can achieve that,” Mbotya said.

“It is disheartening when our boxers get robbed in these fights against local favourites in their backyard, and it demotivates them to give up the sport and resort to criminal activities and drugs.

“But we trust that our municipality will help us shape the careers of these boys because sport is another form of service delivery.”

Makaleni, who occupies top spot in the SA ratings, has been crying out for opportunities amid a weight struggle which saw him jump from junior featherweight to junior welterweight within a short period of time.

His weight gain is attributed to lack of proper dieting, but he has kept winning as he skipped divisions.

Now he is on the verge of fighting for the SA title for the first time in his career, with the bout offering him an opportunity to gain revenge for his Mthatha homeboy Xolani Mcotheli, who surrendered the crown to Dlomo in March.

“We want to return this title to Mthatha.

“We do not want to subject Makeleni to what happened to Mcotheli when he had to travel to Dlomo’s backyard and became a victim of a hometown decision.”

Mcotheli’s loss to Dlomo raised eyebrows after the outcome was first given to him, only for it to be changed and given to his opponent when the Mthatha boxer was already on his way to the dressing room.

“I keep saying when you fight in your opponent’s backyard you become a victim in every sense of the word, and what happened to Mcotheli is proof of that.”

Makeleni will look to stop Dlomo’s dominance of former Transkei boxers having previously shocked Kwabhaca-born Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni with an upset knockout win.