Joyi dumps Mpulampula

Embattled former world boxing champion Nkosinathi “Mabhere” Joyi has taken a major step to revive his career by joining former Boxing SA boss Loyiso Mtya as his trainer.

Joyi, who is considered a spent force in boxing, took the decision amid his fallout with former mentor Boy Boy Mpulampula.

It is not yet clear why he decided to split from Mpulampula but sources reveal that the controversy over the boxer’s non payment of his purse for his IBO junior flyweight title rematch against Filipino Rey Loreto in March played a major role.

Joyi and Loreto are among the boxers still owed their purses by Mamali Promotions.

While Joyi is understood to be sympathetic towards Mamali Promotions boss Siphatho Handi, Mpulampula has been vigorously demanding the payment as he is entitled for 25% of the boxer’s money believed to be R250000.

Mpulampula was among the trainers seen at NU12 Mdantsane, recently, together with his other boxer Siviwe Hasheni who is also owed his purse by Handi, ready to confront Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula about the non-payment.

However, Mbalula did not turn up at the event which marked the donation of money for the buying of prosthetic leg for Zolani Tete’s mother Nomonde.

Handi confirmed that Joyi informed him that he was joining Mtya as he wants to revive his floundering boxing career which took a huge setback after he was knocked out in two successive fights by the Filipino journeyman.

“He told me that he would be training with Mtya and I had no problem with that,” Handi said.

Handi also admitted that his other boxers have left him in droves following his suspension by Boxing SA over the nonpayment saga.

While Joyi fought in the junior flyweight division in his last three fights, including his two defeats by Loreto, the boxer has indicated that he wants to return to the mini-flyweight where he was once rated as the best in the world when he held the IBF crown.

But Mtya said a decision is yet to be taken regarding Joyi’s fighting weight.

“We have been training together for a week now so I told him that I first want to see how his weight is after each training session before I can decide where he really wants to fight,” he said.

Joyi becomes the fourth boxer to join Mtya since the former BSA boss resigned from his acting chief executive post this year.

Other boxers training with him are former undefeated IBF world junior bantamweight champion Zolani Tete, amateur Olympian Siphiwe Lusizi and former SA featherweight title challenger Lwandisa Zinto.

It is not yet clear who Joyi’s promoter will be but it has been learnt that Sijuta Promotions offered him a fight against former SA junior flyweight champion Luzuko Siyo but the Mdantsane boxer turned it down complaining about the paltry purse.

Sijuta Promotions boss Andile Sidinile confirmed that the left hander did not accept a purse he offered him but denied that Joyi has signed with him.

“No, no Joyi is not a Sijuta boxer but we did made him an offer which he turned down,” he said.

There’s strong perception that at 32 years old and him competing in the lighter division where speed, reflexes and movements are crucial, Joyi might be over the hill.

But Mtya argues that the left hander has never been taken to the next level in his career.

“Joyi was fighting on pure talent alone and has never received punishment in his fights so I believe he is not finished as a world class boxer as yet.”