Confusion still reigns in boxing circles after the announcement by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula that the sport will return to SABC-TV next month.Mbalula made the announcement in parliament followed by confirmation from SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng who said the targeted date is June 5 in either Eastern Cape or Gauteng.
This despite the ongoing court case filed by promoter Branco Milenkovic over the insistence by Boxing SA to control promotional rights of the tournaments.
The court case has subjected boxing to a blackout with SABC and BSA also prevented from signing up the promotional rights.
Yesterday, Milenkovic expressed shock over the announcement arguing that Mbalula’s announcement was premature.
“We are as shocked as anyone because this was never communicated with us,” Milenkovic’s lawyer David Swartz said.
He emphasised that his client was never opposed to the broadcasting of boxing and the blackout was never initiated by him.
“Like everyone, we want boxing back on our screens and our court action never prevented it to do so but the parties decided by themselves to halt the broadcast until the case is finalised.
“But we are just surprised by the announcement and we do not believe that this will really happen,” Swartz added.
However, Motsoeneng said in television and radio interviews that all the parties which had been embroiled in the protracted case had reached an agreement to broadcast boxing on television.
But this was disputed by Swartz who argued that no agreement was ever reached.
“We categorically deny that we reached any agreement with anyone regarding the matter,” said Swartz.
He said the court case will continue until the impasse of the television rights was resolved.
Milenkovic wants the television rights to remain with the promoters as it has been the case throughout the years and is still the norm across the globe.
Swartz added that with BSA having declared its administration and financial collapse it was unthinkable to task it with the managing of the television rights that involve millions of rands.
Milenkovic’s lawyers have even written to BSA chairwoman Ntambi Ravele demanding her resignation.
This follows an unprecedented scenario of the non-payment of boxers with BSA taking no decisive action against the perpetrators.
While the announcement of television boxing return has sparked managers at SABC to frantic preparations, promoters in the Eastern Cape are still in the dark about the launch with no word communicated with them to present a possible tournament for the launch.
This even though there are only few weeks left before the June 5 launch date.
Eastern Cape Promoters Association’s Andile Sidinile said he was as shocked as everyone by the announcement.
“We hear that our province as well as Gauteng are the target but we know nothing about that,” said Sidinile.
Swartz said he did not believe the launch would take place.
Mystery over TV deal
This despite the ongoing court case filed by promoter Branco Milenkovic over the insistence by Boxing SA to control promotional rights of the tournaments.
The court case has subjected boxing to a blackout with SABC and BSA also prevented from signing up the promotional rights.
Yesterday, Milenkovic expressed shock over the announcement arguing that Mbalula’s announcement was premature.
“We are as shocked as anyone because this was never communicated with us,” Milenkovic’s lawyer David Swartz said.
He emphasised that his client was never opposed to the broadcasting of boxing and the blackout was never initiated by him.
“Like everyone, we want boxing back on our screens and our court action never prevented it to do so but the parties decided by themselves to halt the broadcast until the case is finalised.
“But we are just surprised by the announcement and we do not believe that this will really happen,” Swartz added.
However, Motsoeneng said in television and radio interviews that all the parties which had been embroiled in the protracted case had reached an agreement to broadcast boxing on television.
But this was disputed by Swartz who argued that no agreement was ever reached.
“We categorically deny that we reached any agreement with anyone regarding the matter,” said Swartz.
He said the court case will continue until the impasse of the television rights was resolved.
Milenkovic wants the television rights to remain with the promoters as it has been the case throughout the years and is still the norm across the globe.
Swartz added that with BSA having declared its administration and financial collapse it was unthinkable to task it with the managing of the television rights that involve millions of rands.
Milenkovic’s lawyers have even written to BSA chairwoman Ntambi Ravele demanding her resignation.
This follows an unprecedented scenario of the non-payment of boxers with BSA taking no decisive action against the perpetrators.
While the announcement of television boxing return has sparked managers at SABC to frantic preparations, promoters in the Eastern Cape are still in the dark about the launch with no word communicated with them to present a possible tournament for the launch.
This even though there are only few weeks left before the June 5 launch date.
Eastern Cape Promoters Association’s Andile Sidinile said he was as shocked as everyone by the announcement.
“We hear that our province as well as Gauteng are the target but we know nothing about that,” said Sidinile.
Swartz said he did not believe the launch would take place.
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