The gloves are off as Sibongile makes her mark
SIBONGILE Matiti says boxing is a disease with which she has been infected — and she does not need a cure.
The bug, she says, runs in the family.
Matiti’s uncle Siphiwe Fuma campaigned in the bantamweight class where he fought many boxers, including national bantamweight holder Welile Nkosinkulu and former SA flyweight, bantamweight and WBA flyweight holder Peter “Terror” Mathebula.
Her brothers Makwedinana and Ayanda boxed professionally in the junior lightweight and junior welterweight divisions respectively.
Makwedinana now trains fighters while Ayanda went on to establish the Xaba Promotions and Events empire which looks after the interests of most of the champions in East London, the Eastern Cape, and IBO welterweight and junior bantamweight champions Tsiko “Cruel Junior” Mulovhedzi from Vhemvhe in Limpopo and Gideon “Hard Core” Buthelezi from Boipatong in Gauteng respectively.
Matiti, who in March obtained her promoter’s licence with Boxing South Africa, is the latest in an evergrowing list of female promoters.
“I am the new kid on the block as a promoter, yes, but I have been around as a boxing administrator since 2007,” said the boss of Zbashy Promotions, which will hit the ground running by staging a five championship event at the Orient Theatre in East London on June 5.
At 32, she is the youngest female promoter in South Africa.
Others are Mbali Zantsi of Showtime Boxing Promotions, Sonja Fernandes of BRD Promotions, Zandile Malinga, who trades under the banner of Starlight Promotions, Promise Moyo of Skylon Boxing Promotions and Hardy Mileham of White Buffalo Promotions.
“I am not a promoter because I want to be seen as another female in a male-dominated sport. I want to relieve the frustrated fighter that is trapped in me while presenting more of a platform for those female fighters who are already within the sport and also encourage others to come in,” Matiti explained, adding that: “My approach is not mainly with women but I want to play a role that will enable them to be viewed in the same light as their male counterparts.”
She said her promotion will also help her brother Ayanda in giving his charges action. In fact, her debut tournament features mainly Ayanda’s boxers.
Topping the bill will be Mabhuti “Macman” Sinyabi defending his IBO international featherweight belt against Francis Miyeyisho from Tanzania.
Makazole “The Professor” Tete will welcome Fadhili Majia, also from Tanzania, in a bout for the vacant IBF Africa junior bantamweight strap.
Bongani “Wonder” Mahlangu will defend his national junior featherweight belt against Bonakele Bikitsha.
Jasper “Jazzman” Seroka’s junior lightweight belt will be on the line against Aphiwe Mboyiya. Athenkosi “Laciar” Dumezweni and Sithembiso Faye will do battle for a vacant IBF Zonal junior bantamweight belt.
The tournament will not be televised and action starts at 2pm.