Fears of Siyabonga Siyo withdrawing from tonight’s IBO mini-flyweight title clash evaporated when he suddenly recovered at the weigh-in of the fight at Emperors Palace yesterday.
Siyo, from Duncan Village will take on Simpiwe Konkco of Mthatha but now based in Johannesburg in a Rodney Berman promoted tournament this evening.
However there was uncertainty of the fight going ahead when Siyo fell sick on Wednesday when he contracted flu after leaving the air-conditioner in his hotel room on.
It affected him so badly that he had to be rushed to the doctor who gave him antibiotic injections that appeared to make him even worse as he half-collapsed.
This led to his handlers contemplating of withdrawing him from the fight.
But yesterday he appeared to be revitalised as he tipped the scales at 47,46kg while Konkco scaled 47,54kg.
Ironically it was Konkco who looked haggard fuelling perceptions that he may have struggled to reduce his weight down to the mini-flyweight division.
Some even suspected that this was due to his underestimating the Duncan Village boxer whom he still claims was beaten by his former understudy Siphamandla Baleni only for Baleni to be denied of the win.
After yesterday’s weigh-in Siyo appeared to be the fresher of the two with his handlers having a hard time to calm him down.
His promoter Andile Sidinile was relieved with the sudden turn of events for his charge after he gave him anxious moments in the previous days.
“I was worried sick but it is obvious that the antibiotic injection was still working in his system when he looked like he was about to collapse,” he said.
“Now he is the Siyo I know and as I am speaking to you we are trying to tone him down because he is hyperactive.”
Asked if he scrutinised the medication from the doctor to make sure that it did not contain banned substances in light of the unprecedented athletes failing dope test, Sidinile said: “ Do not give me another headache please. But we asked the doctor for a medical certificate which we will submit to the fight commissioner.”
Konkco will bank on more support as he has been living in Johannesburg for a while after joining Colin Nathan’s gymnasium when he dumped long-time mentor Madoda Dyonase.
He has also fought at the venue when he engaged in a fight of the year against Hekkie Budler who is now his stablemate.
On the other hand Siyo will be fighting in the venue for the first time but he has dismissed any fears of him being overawed by the occasion.
“If anything, fighting away from home will suit me just fine because I will not be distracted from my fight plan,” he assured.
The fight might be won and lost in the corner where both boxers will be fighting under new handlers for the first time.
Konkco will be guided by Nathan, while Siyo will bank on the wealth of experience of Boy Boy Mpulampula who was roped in to fortify his technical team.
The show will also involve the Cruiserweight Super Four bouts with Johnny Muller taking on unbeaten Dane Micki Nielsen while Kevin Lerena will tussle with Argentinean Roberto Bolonti.
The winners will compete for the share of $100000 (R1.4-million) in September.
It’s down to business
Siyo, from Duncan Village will take on Simpiwe Konkco of Mthatha but now based in Johannesburg in a Rodney Berman promoted tournament this evening.
However there was uncertainty of the fight going ahead when Siyo fell sick on Wednesday when he contracted flu after leaving the air-conditioner in his hotel room on.
It affected him so badly that he had to be rushed to the doctor who gave him antibiotic injections that appeared to make him even worse as he half-collapsed.
This led to his handlers contemplating of withdrawing him from the fight.
But yesterday he appeared to be revitalised as he tipped the scales at 47,46kg while Konkco scaled 47,54kg.
Ironically it was Konkco who looked haggard fuelling perceptions that he may have struggled to reduce his weight down to the mini-flyweight division.
Some even suspected that this was due to his underestimating the Duncan Village boxer whom he still claims was beaten by his former understudy Siphamandla Baleni only for Baleni to be denied of the win.
After yesterday’s weigh-in Siyo appeared to be the fresher of the two with his handlers having a hard time to calm him down.
His promoter Andile Sidinile was relieved with the sudden turn of events for his charge after he gave him anxious moments in the previous days.
“I was worried sick but it is obvious that the antibiotic injection was still working in his system when he looked like he was about to collapse,” he said.
“Now he is the Siyo I know and as I am speaking to you we are trying to tone him down because he is hyperactive.”
Asked if he scrutinised the medication from the doctor to make sure that it did not contain banned substances in light of the unprecedented athletes failing dope test, Sidinile said: “ Do not give me another headache please. But we asked the doctor for a medical certificate which we will submit to the fight commissioner.”
Konkco will bank on more support as he has been living in Johannesburg for a while after joining Colin Nathan’s gymnasium when he dumped long-time mentor Madoda Dyonase.
He has also fought at the venue when he engaged in a fight of the year against Hekkie Budler who is now his stablemate.
On the other hand Siyo will be fighting in the venue for the first time but he has dismissed any fears of him being overawed by the occasion.
“If anything, fighting away from home will suit me just fine because I will not be distracted from my fight plan,” he assured.
The fight might be won and lost in the corner where both boxers will be fighting under new handlers for the first time.
Konkco will be guided by Nathan, while Siyo will bank on the wealth of experience of Boy Boy Mpulampula who was roped in to fortify his technical team.
The show will also involve the Cruiserweight Super Four bouts with Johnny Muller taking on unbeaten Dane Micki Nielsen while Kevin Lerena will tussle with Argentinean Roberto Bolonti.
The winners will compete for the share of $100000 (R1.4-million) in September.
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