Mboyiya starts afresh after lengthy dope ban

Former SA featherweight champion Aphiwe Mboyiya is in a race against time to relaunch his career which was disrupted by a long doping ban.

Mboyiya spent a year on the sidelines after being found to have used a banned substance to reduce his weight, ahead of his clash against Sibusiso Zingange.

The ban hit him when his career was beginning to get off the ground after it slid to a low when he stopped boxing.

However, when he returned to the ring in his second bout after serving his ban, Mboyiya’s career was derailed when he lost to Anthony Molosiane.

“I think we took Molosiane lightly as Mboyiya was focused on a title challenge that was on the horizon after the Molosiane bout,” Mboyiya’s trainer, Kholisile Cengane said.

“I will not lie; the loss set us back and messed up our plans big time.

“It is no use crying over spilt milk but I am still unhappy at how we lost the fight.

“To me, Molosiane only won one round when he dropped us, otherwise we were in control all the way.”

The loss in November 2019 marked the last time the free swinging left-hander was in action before Covid-19 wreaked its havoc on the sport.

The long layoff was feared to have caused Mboyiya to regress in his rehabilitation.

However, Cengani says his charge has been committed in training despite his inactivity.

On April 30, Mboyiya will finally return to the ring in a Xaba Promotions tournament scheduled to be held at East London International Convention Centre.

He will take on upstart Luvuyo Mphuthi, whose own promising career hit a snag when he crashed to a stoppage loss to Siseko Makeleni in his last bout.