Fuzile in race against clock to secure visa

East London boxer’s world title eliminator hanging in the balance

Time is running out for East London boxer Azinga Fuzile to secure a visa to the US for his world title elimination bout at the end of this month.

Fuzile will face English opponent Martin Ward for the IBF world junior lightweight title eliminator in Las Vegas on May 29.

The fight will be a co-feature with the WBC lightweight title defence of Devin Haney against Jorge Linares.

However, Fuzile’s participation in the tournament to be promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing is still up in the air, as he is yet to find a buffer country before flying to the US.

This is due to the downgrading of SA to a Covid-19 red zone status, which means enforcement of travel restrictions between the country and the US.

Fuzile’s camp is trying to find a buffer country that he can quarantine in for 14 days before flying to US.

“We are looking at countries such as Canada, Tunisia, Mexico and so on, but so far we have hit a brick wall,” Fuzile’s promoter, Teris Ntutu, of Rumble Africa Promotions (Rap) said.

Ntutu admitted he was worried by the delay as Fuzile is supposed to leave next week.

So concerned are Rap that they have sought the assistance of Boxing SA (BSA) and government intervention.

“We tried to solicit the help of the government because this issue is at another level.

“We will be representing the country in this fight but so far nothing has been forthcoming.”

BSA confirmed that Rap requested their help to secure visas, which are stricter to obtain during the pandemic.

“I was under the impression that they were coming right with visas but any other issue is beyond our control,” BSA acting CEO Cindy Nkomo said.

Ntutu said they were in contact with SA Embassy in the US to waiver some of the requirements to secure the visa.

The US has adopted stringent conditions to secure visas ever since former American president Donald Trump came into office.

Another East London boxer, Zolani Tete, was caught in the middle of visa fiasco within his team when he was scheduled to fight in the US against Filipino Nonito Donaire in April 2019.

Tete had to travel to the US without his chief trainer, Loyiso Mtya, who could not secure his visa in time, sparking a row within the Tete camp amid allegations Mtya had been left behind deliberately.

Fuzile and his technical team, led by chief trainer Mzamo “Chief” Njekanye, are expected to encounter similar difficulties, as it is harder for first-timers to secure a visa to the US.