By MESULI ZIFO
Boxing is back at Selborne Park tennis courts as the battle to find a suitable Buffalo City venue continues.
Orient Theatre is too small for the volumes of boxing lovers in the region, so promoters resort to alternative venues such as the ICC for major events.
But astronomical fees at the ICC have sent them on a frantic search and right now they’ve settled for Selborne court despite its proximity to residential areas.
In November Sijuta Promotions took its tournament to the venue but the logistics nightmare dealt them a low blow that sent them back to the Orient.
But now Xaba Promotions and Events (XPE) boss Ayanda Matiti has decided to give the tennis venue another shot for the major tournament celebrating Mandela’s birthday next weekend.
The annual event has been hosted by ICC in the past two years. Matiti said the ICC was unavailable next weekend after he moved the tournament from July 22 to July 29.
He said plans were in place to reconstruct the tennis park to meet the requirements, including those of the SABC, which will televise the tournament.
Selborne Park first hosted a boxing event in 1993, when Zolile Mbityi defended his SA flyweight title against Toto Makorotlo in a memorable battle between Duncan Village and East London.
The fight is a classic and in line with paying tribute to the late struggle icon, Matiti said the tournament would also revive the Mbityi-Makorotlo rivalry. “Both Mbityi and Makorotlo will be special guests on the night,” he said.
As with all previous Mandela birthday tournaments, this year’s edition will be stuffed with potentially explosive bouts topped by the first ever IBF youth world title to be held in the province.
Aphiwe Mboyiya will challenge Filipino Jerry Castroverde for the junior world crown.
Mboyiya is fresh from the stunning dethronement of SA junior-lightweight champ Jasper Seroka a few weeks ago.
At 23 he is already a veteran, having taken out the best including Macbute Sinyabi, Sydeny Maluleke, Oscar Chauke and Lusanda Komanisi.
Other bouts on the bill include Makazole Tete taking on Filipino Raymond Tagubon for the IBF Intercontinental junior-bantamweight crown as well as Mthatha’s Athu Dumezweni taking a step towards a world ranking when he contests Namibian Abmerk Shindjuu for the vacant WBO Africa junior-bantamweight crown. Last but not least is the eagerly anticipated clash between Ali Magcontywa and Siphamandla Baleni for the SA mini-flyweight crown.
Fiery fists set for Selborne
Boxing is back at Selborne Park tennis courts as the battle to find a suitable Buffalo City venue continues.
Orient Theatre is too small for the volumes of boxing lovers in the region, so promoters resort to alternative venues such as the ICC for major events.
But astronomical fees at the ICC have sent them on a frantic search and right now they’ve settled for Selborne court despite its proximity to residential areas.
In November Sijuta Promotions took its tournament to the venue but the logistics nightmare dealt them a low blow that sent them back to the Orient.
But now Xaba Promotions and Events (XPE) boss Ayanda Matiti has decided to give the tennis venue another shot for the major tournament celebrating Mandela’s birthday next weekend.
The annual event has been hosted by ICC in the past two years. Matiti said the ICC was unavailable next weekend after he moved the tournament from July 22 to July 29.
He said plans were in place to reconstruct the tennis park to meet the requirements, including those of the SABC, which will televise the tournament.
Selborne Park first hosted a boxing event in 1993, when Zolile Mbityi defended his SA flyweight title against Toto Makorotlo in a memorable battle between Duncan Village and East London.
The fight is a classic and in line with paying tribute to the late struggle icon, Matiti said the tournament would also revive the Mbityi-Makorotlo rivalry. “Both Mbityi and Makorotlo will be special guests on the night,” he said.
As with all previous Mandela birthday tournaments, this year’s edition will be stuffed with potentially explosive bouts topped by the first ever IBF youth world title to be held in the province.
Aphiwe Mboyiya will challenge Filipino Jerry Castroverde for the junior world crown.
Mboyiya is fresh from the stunning dethronement of SA junior-lightweight champ Jasper Seroka a few weeks ago.
At 23 he is already a veteran, having taken out the best including Macbute Sinyabi, Sydeny Maluleke, Oscar Chauke and Lusanda Komanisi.
Other bouts on the bill include Makazole Tete taking on Filipino Raymond Tagubon for the IBF Intercontinental junior-bantamweight crown as well as Mthatha’s Athu Dumezweni taking a step towards a world ranking when he contests Namibian Abmerk Shindjuu for the vacant WBO Africa junior-bantamweight crown. Last but not least is the eagerly anticipated clash between Ali Magcontywa and Siphamandla Baleni for the SA mini-flyweight crown.
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