The ambitious idea of staging a boxing tournament in a tennis stadium has proven to be problematic with promoter Andile Sidinile who is taking his next big event back to the Orient Theatre.
Sidinile’s company Sijuta Promotions organised a boxing tournament at the Selborne courts in November last year with top boxers like Simpiwe Vetyeka and Xolisani Ndongeni in crucial fights.
The move was inspired by a near stampede in Sidinile’s tournament at the Orient Theatre where Vetyeka, Ndongeni and Nkosinathi Joyi were featured a year earlier. It was the first time in 22 years a boxing event was held at the courts. They hosted the classic SA flyweight title clash between Toto Mokorotlo and Zolile Mbityi in 1993.
Despite the mounting scepticism especially stemming from the logistical challenges of the Mbityi-Mokorotlo fight, Sidinile went ahead backed by SuperSport.
While he later disputed a Daily Dispatch report that the tournament was not a success, Sidinile has now admitted that taking the show to a tennis court was not the best of moves.
“There were huge logistical challenges and I must add that the expenses far outweigh those at Orient Theatre,” he said. “We would have never known, though, if we did not embark on the venture.”
With this background, Sidinile will return to the Orient Theatre even though the venue has been red- carded for its inadequate condition. He will present a tournament topped by Vetyeka against Japanese opponent Tsuyoshi Tameda in a featherweight non-title fight next Friday.
Sidinile denied he was put under pressure by SuperSport to return to the Orient.
“SuperSport had nothing to do with our decision,” he said.
With his next Friday show also expected to attract scores of spectators as it features crowd-pullers Vetyeka, Ndongeni and Joyi, Sidinile has beefed up security to be ready for any crowd violence. Already tickets are being sold at Computicket at R150. There will be none sold at the venue.
Sidinile said he has hired two security companies to deal with any challenges that might arise.
“One company will monitor proceedings inside the hall while the other will make sure that non-ticket carriers do not come near to the entrance.”
Ticket holders will be required to show their tickets a good 10m from the entrance.
Ndongeni will take on Tanzanian Emilio Norfat in a lightweight non-title fight while Joyi will face Oscar Nkwankwa in a junior flyweight duel.
Other potentially explosive bouts include the WBA pan-African flyweight title clash between Nhlanhla “24” Ngamntwini and Mzwabantu Dabaza.
Other boxers on the bill include Luzuko Siyo vying for the WBA international junior bantamweight belt against Yohei Tobe from Japan, Giovanni Bushby and Olympian Siphiwe Lusizi.
Back to the Orient for big fight event
Sidinile’s company Sijuta Promotions organised a boxing tournament at the Selborne courts in November last year with top boxers like Simpiwe Vetyeka and Xolisani Ndongeni in crucial fights.
The move was inspired by a near stampede in Sidinile’s tournament at the Orient Theatre where Vetyeka, Ndongeni and Nkosinathi Joyi were featured a year earlier. It was the first time in 22 years a boxing event was held at the courts. They hosted the classic SA flyweight title clash between Toto Mokorotlo and Zolile Mbityi in 1993.
Despite the mounting scepticism especially stemming from the logistical challenges of the Mbityi-Mokorotlo fight, Sidinile went ahead backed by SuperSport.
While he later disputed a Daily Dispatch report that the tournament was not a success, Sidinile has now admitted that taking the show to a tennis court was not the best of moves.
“There were huge logistical challenges and I must add that the expenses far outweigh those at Orient Theatre,” he said. “We would have never known, though, if we did not embark on the venture.”
With this background, Sidinile will return to the Orient Theatre even though the venue has been red- carded for its inadequate condition. He will present a tournament topped by Vetyeka against Japanese opponent Tsuyoshi Tameda in a featherweight non-title fight next Friday.
Sidinile denied he was put under pressure by SuperSport to return to the Orient.
“SuperSport had nothing to do with our decision,” he said.
With his next Friday show also expected to attract scores of spectators as it features crowd-pullers Vetyeka, Ndongeni and Joyi, Sidinile has beefed up security to be ready for any crowd violence. Already tickets are being sold at Computicket at R150. There will be none sold at the venue.
Sidinile said he has hired two security companies to deal with any challenges that might arise.
“One company will monitor proceedings inside the hall while the other will make sure that non-ticket carriers do not come near to the entrance.”
Ticket holders will be required to show their tickets a good 10m from the entrance.
Ndongeni will take on Tanzanian Emilio Norfat in a lightweight non-title fight while Joyi will face Oscar Nkwankwa in a junior flyweight duel.
Other potentially explosive bouts include the WBA pan-African flyweight title clash between Nhlanhla “24” Ngamntwini and Mzwabantu Dabaza.
Other boxers on the bill include Luzuko Siyo vying for the WBA international junior bantamweight belt against Yohei Tobe from Japan, Giovanni Bushby and Olympian Siphiwe Lusizi.
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