Dedicated boxing trainer Kholisile Cengani has vowed to continue with his sterling work despite the ongoing disappointments besetting his club.
Cengani, affectionately known as “KCI” in boxing circles is up in arms following the withdrawal of his boxers who were scheduled to feature in a KK Promotions tournament tonight. Cengani’s boxer Noxolo Makhanavu was scheduled to defend her SA flyweight title against Tshepang Majola.
One of his other boxers, Ayanda Ndulani, was also due to fight for the vacant ABU mini-flyweight crown against Siphamandla Baleni in a highly anticipated clash.
But both Cengani’s boxers will no longer be participating – or fighting in the tournament – due to bureaucratic red-tape.
Majola did not receive approval for her fight after officials discovered that she had lost her last three bouts, which disqualified her from making a bid for the national title.
Ndulani, on the other hand, was told that he was still in a “waiting period” because he had fought only a fortnight ago, when he beat Khanyiso Siko on points to win then vacant EC mini-flyweight title on April 29.
According to Boxing SA regulations, a boxer can only fight again 21 days after his last bout.
The 21-day waiting period expires only tomorrow night for Ndulani, and has therefore ruled him out of the fight. The developments have left Cengani disappointed, having put everything in to preparing his boxers for the bouts.
What makes matters worse, is that he was only informed about the illegibility of the boxers last Sunday.
“I was not even aware that the regulation has changed from a 14- day wait to 21,” he said.
“Now imagine when I informed the boxers that they were no longer fighting after putting them through the rigours of training.”
What upset Cengani even more was Ndulani’s on-and-off again bout.
He was bombarded by telephone calls informing him the fight was on one moment, only to be told that it was off the next.
“By the time they came back to me to tell me that Ndulani should prepare again because the bout was back on track, I had already given up and told them that I was not going to be part of that.” Ndulani had already stopped training by the time he was informed that there was still leeway for him to fight. The whole saga is affecting the relationship between Cengani and his boxers.
“This is why boxers leave for other handlers because when this happens they think you are responsible,” he lamented.
Cengani is still smarting following the suspension of his top boxer Aphiwe Mboyiya whom he plucked from a wayward lifestyle, to guide him to the SA junior-lightweight title – among others. Mboyiya also won the IBF youth title as well as a plethora of other regional titles.
However his resurgence came crashing down when he was banned for two years after he was found to have used a banned substance in his rematch against Sibusiso Zingange in April last year.
Cengani took some flak for the indiscretion with some accusing him of being behind Mboyiya’s doping.
Despite the setback, he continues to produce talent, including Ndulani who is tipped to go far in the game.
Ndulani’s win over Siko makes him the fourth provincial champion from Cengani’s gym. He joins hard-hitting Khanyile Bulana who holds the featherweight crown, Luthando Mbumbulwana who rules in the junior-featherweight and Odwa Gaxa who reigns over the welterweight division. — Boxing Mecca
Stymied as red-tape floors star fighters
Cengani, affectionately known as “KCI” in boxing circles is up in arms following the withdrawal of his boxers who were scheduled to feature in a KK Promotions tournament tonight. Cengani’s boxer Noxolo Makhanavu was scheduled to defend her SA flyweight title against Tshepang Majola.
One of his other boxers, Ayanda Ndulani, was also due to fight for the vacant ABU mini-flyweight crown against Siphamandla Baleni in a highly anticipated clash.
But both Cengani’s boxers will no longer be participating – or fighting in the tournament – due to bureaucratic red-tape.
Majola did not receive approval for her fight after officials discovered that she had lost her last three bouts, which disqualified her from making a bid for the national title.
Ndulani, on the other hand, was told that he was still in a “waiting period” because he had fought only a fortnight ago, when he beat Khanyiso Siko on points to win then vacant EC mini-flyweight title on April 29.
According to Boxing SA regulations, a boxer can only fight again 21 days after his last bout.
The 21-day waiting period expires only tomorrow night for Ndulani, and has therefore ruled him out of the fight. The developments have left Cengani disappointed, having put everything in to preparing his boxers for the bouts.
What makes matters worse, is that he was only informed about the illegibility of the boxers last Sunday.
“I was not even aware that the regulation has changed from a 14- day wait to 21,” he said.
“Now imagine when I informed the boxers that they were no longer fighting after putting them through the rigours of training.”
What upset Cengani even more was Ndulani’s on-and-off again bout.
He was bombarded by telephone calls informing him the fight was on one moment, only to be told that it was off the next.
“By the time they came back to me to tell me that Ndulani should prepare again because the bout was back on track, I had already given up and told them that I was not going to be part of that.” Ndulani had already stopped training by the time he was informed that there was still leeway for him to fight. The whole saga is affecting the relationship between Cengani and his boxers.
“This is why boxers leave for other handlers because when this happens they think you are responsible,” he lamented.
Cengani is still smarting following the suspension of his top boxer Aphiwe Mboyiya whom he plucked from a wayward lifestyle, to guide him to the SA junior-lightweight title – among others. Mboyiya also won the IBF youth title as well as a plethora of other regional titles.
However his resurgence came crashing down when he was banned for two years after he was found to have used a banned substance in his rematch against Sibusiso Zingange in April last year.
Cengani took some flak for the indiscretion with some accusing him of being behind Mboyiya’s doping.
Despite the setback, he continues to produce talent, including Ndulani who is tipped to go far in the game.
Ndulani’s win over Siko makes him the fourth provincial champion from Cengani’s gym. He joins hard-hitting Khanyile Bulana who holds the featherweight crown, Luthando Mbumbulwana who rules in the junior-featherweight and Odwa Gaxa who reigns over the welterweight division. — Boxing Mecca
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