Sabelo Ngebiyane jeopardises IBO world title shot
Just a day after reports that Sabelo Ngebiyane would challenge for the IBO world title in Gqeberha, the boxer slipped out of the country to participate in a bout in Russia.
Ngebiyane, who is scheduled to face Gideon Buthelezi for the IBO junior bantamweight crown at the beginning of September, left for Russia on Wednesday without clearance from Boxing SA.
Not only did he deal the national regulator a sucker punch, but the promoters of his bout with Buthelezi were also caught unawares.
“We only learnt about it (the fight) on social media,” confirmed Linda Saliwa of Xaba Promotions, who will organise the Buthelezi bout.
Saliwa could not say if the fight against Buthelezi would still go ahead, even though the IBO will be unlikely to approve the challenge for its title if he loses in Russia.
Ngebiyane will face Armenian-born Russian boxer Narek Abgaryan in a bantamweight clash in Ekaterinburg in Russia tomorrow.
The fight will be on the undercard to the tournament, promoted by Russian promoter German Titov, best known for being part of the delegation of Shavkat Rakhimov when he fought and knocked out Duncan Village’s Azinga Fuzile in an IBF junior lightweight title eliminator in East London in September 2019.
But Ngebiyane will likely face the music on his return as BSA revealed that he had left without authorisation.
“I can say we have no knowledge of Sabelo Ngebiyane fighting in Russia and we did not issue him with a clearance,” BSA acting CEO Cindy Nkomo said.
“He did not apply for a clearance but we did inform his management of the steps he needed to take if he wanted to be issued with a clearance. Obviously he defied us.”
Nkomo could not say if any action would be taken against Ngebiyane on his return.
“I think we will follow due process to deal with the matter,” was all she would say.