Fuzile gets green light to go, but visas still stumbling blocks
Boxer no longer needs to quarantine in another country before IBF junior lightweight eliminator world title bout
Azinga Fuzile’s team breathed a huge sigh of relief after he was exempted from having to quarantine in another country before flying to the US for his world title eliminator.
Fuzile will face British fighter Martin Ward for the IBF junior lightweight title eliminator in Las Vegas on May 29.
The fight, to be streamed by DAZN, will be a co-feature of the WBC lightweight title clash between Devin Haney and Jorge Linares.
Fuzile and his team were initially told to first quarantine in a buffer country for 14 days before flying to the US, because SA is considered a Covid-19 red zone.
The requirement also befell Kwazulu-natal boxer Moruti Mthalane, who had to quarantine in Tunisia before flying to the UK for his IBF flyweight title defence against Sunny Edwards a fortnight ago.
Mthalane lost his title when he was beaten on points by Edwards.
Matchroom Boxing, who are promoting the fight, informed Fuzile’s camp that he had been exempted from the requirement to quarantine in another country before flying to the US.
A Matchroom representative, who did not reveal her name, confirmed this to the Daily Dispatch.
“Fuzile will fly directly from SA to the US for the fight,” she said.
Rumble Africa Promotions (Rap) boss Nomfesane Nyatela, Fuzile’s promoter, said: “We are delighted by the news because it was a mammoth task to find another country to quarantine.”
However, Fuzile will need to fly to the US two weeks in advance to quarantine there, leaving the Duncan Village boxer with little time to secure a visa.
It will be Fuzile’s first visit to the US.
His technical team, consisting of chief trainer Mzamo “Chief” Njekanye and assistant trainer Yanga Gingxana, will also be travelling to the US for the first time
This could delay their visas as first-time applicants sometimes struggle to obtain the necessary documents to enter the US.
“We are busy working on obtaining visas but it is taking time,” said Nyatela.
Fuzile’s ex trainer, Colin Nathan, who negotiated the fight, will not be part of the team.
Nathan has just returned from the UK with Mthalane and is understood to be unwilling to take another trip abroad.
He said he would be busy with his other boxers who have bouts back home.
Two of the boxers are former world champions Simpiwe Khonkco, of Mthatha, and Hekkie Budler, who both will make a long-awaited ring return in two weeks’ time against Filipino opposition.