East London will make boxing history when it hosts five tournaments featuring world title bouts in one weekend next week.
This when several efforts are being made to discourage boxing promoters to staging tournaments in the only active region in the land.
Despite Boxing SA pulling the plug on tournaments held in the region citing lack of compliance, East London is forging ahead to prove itself as the boxing Mecca in the land with no fewer than four tournaments scheduled next weekend.
This while other regions in the country can hardly host one tournament throughout the year.
But in East London the influx of shows will even see two of them being held in one day as promoters jostle for dates.
The windfall will start next Friday when Sijuta Promotions, under Andile Sidinile, present a WBA featherweight title eliminator between Simpiwe Vetyeka and Mexican Arturo Santos Reyes at Orient Theatre.
Vetyeka will be trying to get back to winning ways after surrendering his WBA crown to Filipino Nonito Donaire in Macau in May.
In the same show, Luzuko Siyo will defend his IBO Intercontinental junior-flyweight crown against Filipino Raymond Tabugo.
There will be other potentially explosive bouts on the cards, including the highly anticipated clash between unbeaten prospects Siphamandla Baleni and Siyabonga Siyo who will vie for the WBA Pan African mini-flyweight crown.
On the following day Mamali Promotions under Siphatho Handi will present the IBO mini-flyweight title rematch between Nkosinathi Joyi and Filipino Rey Loreto at Mdantsane Indoor Centre.
There are rumours that Mzonke Fana might face Thabo Sonjica for the vacant IBO junior-lightweight title on the same bill.
But Handi refused to confirm or deny the rumours, saying he was still working on tying loose ends.
“Just give me some time to sort out everything and I will confirm everything,” said Handi.
On the very same day, Ayanda Matiti, who trades under Xaba Promotions, will stage the IBO junior-bantamweight title defence of Lwandile Sityatha against Filipino Michael Dasmerinas at Orient Theatre.
The show, which is scheduled to be a gala dinner, will also feature Xolani Mcotheli vying for then IBO Intercontinental junior-lightweight title against Filipino Merbon Badiongan.
As if that is not enough, Thembelani Maphuma will square up against Sithembiso Faye for the vacant SA junior-bantamweight diadem while Tsiko Mulovhedzi will defend his SA welterweight belt against Mziwoxolo Ndwayana.
Luyanda Mvula has a rematch against Thabiso Moorosi for the SA junior-flyweight title.
On Sunday, Eyethu Promotions will present the SA junior-middleweight title rematch between defending champion Nkululeko Mhlongo and Yanga Phethani at the Orient.
In the same show Oscar Chauke will defend his SA featherweight crown against Bonakele Bhikitsha.
On Monday it will be the new kid on the promotion block when Rumble In the Jungle Promotions make their promotional debut with an IBO world featherweight title clash between reigning champion Lusanda Komanisi against Filipino Roli Gasca at the Orient.
The show will also see the eagerly anticipated clash between Simpiwe Konkco and Nhlanhla “24” Ngamntwini for the IBO Intercontinental mini-flyweight title.
Boxing SA Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs said the succession of tournaments underlined the East London region as the boxing stronghold in the country.
“As you can see some tournaments will be held on the same day while others will take place on a Monday,” he said.
City braced for hive of activity
This when several efforts are being made to discourage boxing promoters to staging tournaments in the only active region in the land.
Despite Boxing SA pulling the plug on tournaments held in the region citing lack of compliance, East London is forging ahead to prove itself as the boxing Mecca in the land with no fewer than four tournaments scheduled next weekend.
This while other regions in the country can hardly host one tournament throughout the year.
But in East London the influx of shows will even see two of them being held in one day as promoters jostle for dates.
The windfall will start next Friday when Sijuta Promotions, under Andile Sidinile, present a WBA featherweight title eliminator between Simpiwe Vetyeka and Mexican Arturo Santos Reyes at Orient Theatre.
Vetyeka will be trying to get back to winning ways after surrendering his WBA crown to Filipino Nonito Donaire in Macau in May.
In the same show, Luzuko Siyo will defend his IBO Intercontinental junior-flyweight crown against Filipino Raymond Tabugo.
There will be other potentially explosive bouts on the cards, including the highly anticipated clash between unbeaten prospects Siphamandla Baleni and Siyabonga Siyo who will vie for the WBA Pan African mini-flyweight crown.
On the following day Mamali Promotions under Siphatho Handi will present the IBO mini-flyweight title rematch between Nkosinathi Joyi and Filipino Rey Loreto at Mdantsane Indoor Centre.
There are rumours that Mzonke Fana might face Thabo Sonjica for the vacant IBO junior-lightweight title on the same bill.
But Handi refused to confirm or deny the rumours, saying he was still working on tying loose ends.
“Just give me some time to sort out everything and I will confirm everything,” said Handi.
On the very same day, Ayanda Matiti, who trades under Xaba Promotions, will stage the IBO junior-bantamweight title defence of Lwandile Sityatha against Filipino Michael Dasmerinas at Orient Theatre.
The show, which is scheduled to be a gala dinner, will also feature Xolani Mcotheli vying for then IBO Intercontinental junior-lightweight title against Filipino Merbon Badiongan.
As if that is not enough, Thembelani Maphuma will square up against Sithembiso Faye for the vacant SA junior-bantamweight diadem while Tsiko Mulovhedzi will defend his SA welterweight belt against Mziwoxolo Ndwayana.
Luyanda Mvula has a rematch against Thabiso Moorosi for the SA junior-flyweight title.
On Sunday, Eyethu Promotions will present the SA junior-middleweight title rematch between defending champion Nkululeko Mhlongo and Yanga Phethani at the Orient.
In the same show Oscar Chauke will defend his SA featherweight crown against Bonakele Bhikitsha.
On Monday it will be the new kid on the promotion block when Rumble In the Jungle Promotions make their promotional debut with an IBO world featherweight title clash between reigning champion Lusanda Komanisi against Filipino Roli Gasca at the Orient.
The show will also see the eagerly anticipated clash between Simpiwe Konkco and Nhlanhla “24” Ngamntwini for the IBO Intercontinental mini-flyweight title.
Boxing SA Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs said the succession of tournaments underlined the East London region as the boxing stronghold in the country.
“As you can see some tournaments will be held on the same day while others will take place on a Monday,” he said.
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