Xolisani Ndongeni might be basking on the glory of winning the R1-million in the recently concluded Premier Boxing League.
But the Duncan Village boxer is far from happy owing to the tug-of-war between his handlers about his services.
The standoff is between his manager/trainer Chief Njekanye and promoter Ayanda Matiti who both have different plans for the fighter.
Matiti, who has been keeping Ndongeni active leading to the boxer to win the two SA titles as well as the IBO Intercontinental lightweight crown within a year, wants to take Ndongeni to a world title.
“I have already spoken to the IBO president Ed Levine about Ndongeni fighting for the world title but so far there is an issue involving current champion Daud Yordan and the IBO,” he says.
“Until that is cleared because the IBO wants to strip Yordan but we will have to wait until then.”
But Njekanye reportedly wants to take the boxer to another promoter instead.
Ndongeni, who has been with Njekanye since he started to box, is caught in-between and has ordered Matiti and Njekanye to sort out the issue because he wants to work with both.
“I told them to sit down and find a solution to this because it will affect my career in the long run,” he confirmed.
The bitter standoff was so evident before Ndongeni’s fight against Vusumzi Tyatyeka at Orient Theatre where he beat him to win the R1-million a fortnight ago.
The two hardly spoke to each other while in the corner of Ndongeni just before the start of the bout.
Matiti admitted that he has some differences with Njenkanye but refused to elaborate saying they are politically motivated.
“ I do not want to dwell on this because it is deeper than people realise. All I can say is that I think Chief is being used to fight me.”
When contacted Njekanye refused to comment, saying he was not interested to be drawn into an issue that involves his boxer.
But he was recently quoted saying a promoter who wants to sign Ndongeni must come with a concrete offer.
This while Matiti still regards himself as the promoter of the boxer.
Matiti admitted that he has no binding contract with Ndongeni but has a gentleman’s agreement.
“My contract with Ndongeni expired a long time ago but we have been working together through loyalty to each other. In fact almost that is the case with all my boxers such as Lwandile Sityatha, Makazole Tete and others. We work together on loyalty and there has never been a problem.”
Ndongeni admits that he wants to fight for a world title but the current standoff between his handlers was the stumbling block.
“I hope they resolve this issue speedily before it is too late,” he said.
Ndongeni's camp at war
But the Duncan Village boxer is far from happy owing to the tug-of-war between his handlers about his services.
The standoff is between his manager/trainer Chief Njekanye and promoter Ayanda Matiti who both have different plans for the fighter.
Matiti, who has been keeping Ndongeni active leading to the boxer to win the two SA titles as well as the IBO Intercontinental lightweight crown within a year, wants to take Ndongeni to a world title.
“I have already spoken to the IBO president Ed Levine about Ndongeni fighting for the world title but so far there is an issue involving current champion Daud Yordan and the IBO,” he says.
“Until that is cleared because the IBO wants to strip Yordan but we will have to wait until then.”
But Njekanye reportedly wants to take the boxer to another promoter instead.
Ndongeni, who has been with Njekanye since he started to box, is caught in-between and has ordered Matiti and Njekanye to sort out the issue because he wants to work with both.
“I told them to sit down and find a solution to this because it will affect my career in the long run,” he confirmed.
The bitter standoff was so evident before Ndongeni’s fight against Vusumzi Tyatyeka at Orient Theatre where he beat him to win the R1-million a fortnight ago.
The two hardly spoke to each other while in the corner of Ndongeni just before the start of the bout.
Matiti admitted that he has some differences with Njenkanye but refused to elaborate saying they are politically motivated.
“ I do not want to dwell on this because it is deeper than people realise. All I can say is that I think Chief is being used to fight me.”
When contacted Njekanye refused to comment, saying he was not interested to be drawn into an issue that involves his boxer.
But he was recently quoted saying a promoter who wants to sign Ndongeni must come with a concrete offer.
This while Matiti still regards himself as the promoter of the boxer.
Matiti admitted that he has no binding contract with Ndongeni but has a gentleman’s agreement.
“My contract with Ndongeni expired a long time ago but we have been working together through loyalty to each other. In fact almost that is the case with all my boxers such as Lwandile Sityatha, Makazole Tete and others. We work together on loyalty and there has never been a problem.”
Ndongeni admits that he wants to fight for a world title but the current standoff between his handlers was the stumbling block.
“I hope they resolve this issue speedily before it is too late,” he said.
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