THIS evening will mark the dawn of the new era in boxing when Premier Boxing League (PBL) is officially launched at the East London International Convention Centre.
While boxing fans will be on tenterhooks to witness the birth of the new baby, the spotlight will be on the 16 fighters selected to participate in the lucrative league.
The league is the brainchild of former SABC-TV boxing commentator Dicksy Ngqula who first introduced it to boxing stakeholders in Mdantsane two months ago before embarking on a nationwide roadshow.
With all the provinces having welcomed and embraced the project, this evening will mark its official christening in what promises to be a glittering occasion attended mostly by boxing stakeholders and businesspeople.
Ngqula, who is based in Johannesburg but was born in the province, says the event will be mainly a boxing evening aimed at putting the boxers in the spotlight.
“The evening will be about boxers and we do not want to divert the attention from them,” he said.
Ngqula refused to lift the lid on the identity of the 16 fighters selected to participate in the first leg of the league, saying the names would be divulged at the launch.
However the Daily Dispatch has got wind of the local fighters selected including their peers from other provinces.
Among the fighters selected is former SA junior-featherweight champion Macbute Sinyabi who will compete in the featherweight division together with reigning champion Aphiwe Mboyiya.
Sinyabi, who has just severed ties with longtime mentor Nick Durandt, has called a press conference today to announce his next fight as he looks to get back to winning ways after losing his crown to nemesis Thabo Sonjica of Duncan Village this past March.
Ngqula denied widespread rumours that Sinyabi would be the ambassador for PBL, emphasising that all boxers in the league would be treated equally.
Besides Sinyabi 15 other boxers would be divided into four, competing in four divisions which are the flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight.
The boxers will compete against each other per division with a purse of R60 000 per fight on a points system.
This means each boxer will fight a minimum of three fights with a knockout or technical knockout getting extra points which will eventually be tallied to determine the overall winner who will walk away with R1-million grand prize.
The fights will be screened live on free-to-air channel e.tv in programme called “fight nights”.
Ngqula said all the selected fighters would be present at the launch.
The first promoter to be handed the task of organising the first tournament on a date yet to be confirmed in June will also be announced.
“We are excited about this new venture and we have no doubt that it will knock our boxing into shape and bring back the glory days,” Ngqula added.
Several provincial governments including the Eastern Cape have already climbed on the bandwagon with KwaZulu-Natal having made an offer to acquire its hosting rights.
The launch starts at 6.30pm.
SA’s biggest fist fight project takes off in EL
While boxing fans will be on tenterhooks to witness the birth of the new baby, the spotlight will be on the 16 fighters selected to participate in the lucrative league.
The league is the brainchild of former SABC-TV boxing commentator Dicksy Ngqula who first introduced it to boxing stakeholders in Mdantsane two months ago before embarking on a nationwide roadshow.
With all the provinces having welcomed and embraced the project, this evening will mark its official christening in what promises to be a glittering occasion attended mostly by boxing stakeholders and businesspeople.
Ngqula, who is based in Johannesburg but was born in the province, says the event will be mainly a boxing evening aimed at putting the boxers in the spotlight.
“The evening will be about boxers and we do not want to divert the attention from them,” he said.
Ngqula refused to lift the lid on the identity of the 16 fighters selected to participate in the first leg of the league, saying the names would be divulged at the launch.
However the Daily Dispatch has got wind of the local fighters selected including their peers from other provinces.
Among the fighters selected is former SA junior-featherweight champion Macbute Sinyabi who will compete in the featherweight division together with reigning champion Aphiwe Mboyiya.
Sinyabi, who has just severed ties with longtime mentor Nick Durandt, has called a press conference today to announce his next fight as he looks to get back to winning ways after losing his crown to nemesis Thabo Sonjica of Duncan Village this past March.
Ngqula denied widespread rumours that Sinyabi would be the ambassador for PBL, emphasising that all boxers in the league would be treated equally.
Besides Sinyabi 15 other boxers would be divided into four, competing in four divisions which are the flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight.
The boxers will compete against each other per division with a purse of R60 000 per fight on a points system.
This means each boxer will fight a minimum of three fights with a knockout or technical knockout getting extra points which will eventually be tallied to determine the overall winner who will walk away with R1-million grand prize.
The fights will be screened live on free-to-air channel e.tv in programme called “fight nights”.
Ngqula said all the selected fighters would be present at the launch.
The first promoter to be handed the task of organising the first tournament on a date yet to be confirmed in June will also be announced.
“We are excited about this new venture and we have no doubt that it will knock our boxing into shape and bring back the glory days,” Ngqula added.
Several provincial governments including the Eastern Cape have already climbed on the bandwagon with KwaZulu-Natal having made an offer to acquire its hosting rights.
The launch starts at 6.30pm.
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