Just when the local boxing fraternity is smarting from the abrupt cutting of ties between Xaba Promotions and Events and longtime boxer Lwandile Sityatha, came another bombshell when Sijuta Promotions severed ties with boxer Simpiwe Vetyeka.
Sijuta boss Andile Sidinile revealed that his boxer-promoter relationship with Vetyeka has come to an end even though he had two years left on his contract.
“We have decided to release Simpiwe Vetyeka from our contract and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” he said.
The starling developments led to Vetyeka to be withdrawn from the April fight which was to be promoted by Sijuta in East London.
No tangible reasons were given by Sijuta for the split besides saying that they could not meet Vetyeka’s demands.
This after the boxer allegedly claimed that Sidinile blocked a fight in KwaZulu-Natal where he was scheduled to fight under Ludonga Promotions owned by KZN promoter Thulani Magudulela.
But Sidinile denied the claim even though he admitted that there were negotiations to feature Vetyeka in a tournament promoted by Magudulela in KZN.
“But Magudulela told me that he could not organise the fight because KZN government was only interested to fund boxers from the province and not from outside,” he said.
Vetyeka steadily refused to comment about the split insisting that he wanted to first read what Sidinile was saying about him.
“I would rather not say anything until I had seen what he says about this issue,” he said.
Sidinile and Vetyeka had enjoyed a seemingly good relationship when the boxer dumped Johannesburg trainer Nick Durandt to return home.
This after he had won the IBO featherweight crown by shocking favourite Daude Yordan of Indonesia with a second round stoppage.
The pair then travelled to Australia on a seemingly mission impossible to topple long reigning WBA champion Chris John who is also an Indonesian legend in December 2013 when Vetyeka shocked the world with a sixth round stoppage win.
The fight was preceded by allegations from Vetyeka’s previous handlers including Durandt and Australian-based recently retired South African boxer Lovemore Ndou that they were owed money by the boxer.
Other people who had made similar claims include top promoter Rodney Berman as well as former boxing trainer Elias Tshabalala.
But Vetyeka has denied the allegations, making his own counter-claims.
Now 35 years old, it is not clear who will guide his career.
Sidinile who even took the boxer to sign with top influential boxing adviser Al Haymon, renowned for being the brains behind US boxer Floyd Mayweather’s wealth, said he would write a letter to Haymon advising him of the split.
Sidinile also attended the WBA Convention in Panama this past December to plead the cases of his boxers including Vetyeka to get high ratings in order to qualify for a world title challenge.
The plea resulted in Vetyeka being rewarded with a fourth rating which puts him in world title contention.
Sidinile could not say if the boxer will maintain his high rating regardless of the split, but added that he would no longer continue with his mission of taking him to a world title challenge.
He added that he would inform US promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Promotions of the split.
Margules is one of the promoters working with Haymon.
Vetyeka shown exit door
Sijuta boss Andile Sidinile revealed that his boxer-promoter relationship with Vetyeka has come to an end even though he had two years left on his contract.
“We have decided to release Simpiwe Vetyeka from our contract and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” he said.
The starling developments led to Vetyeka to be withdrawn from the April fight which was to be promoted by Sijuta in East London.
No tangible reasons were given by Sijuta for the split besides saying that they could not meet Vetyeka’s demands.
This after the boxer allegedly claimed that Sidinile blocked a fight in KwaZulu-Natal where he was scheduled to fight under Ludonga Promotions owned by KZN promoter Thulani Magudulela.
But Sidinile denied the claim even though he admitted that there were negotiations to feature Vetyeka in a tournament promoted by Magudulela in KZN.
“But Magudulela told me that he could not organise the fight because KZN government was only interested to fund boxers from the province and not from outside,” he said.
Vetyeka steadily refused to comment about the split insisting that he wanted to first read what Sidinile was saying about him.
“I would rather not say anything until I had seen what he says about this issue,” he said.
Sidinile and Vetyeka had enjoyed a seemingly good relationship when the boxer dumped Johannesburg trainer Nick Durandt to return home.
This after he had won the IBO featherweight crown by shocking favourite Daude Yordan of Indonesia with a second round stoppage.
The pair then travelled to Australia on a seemingly mission impossible to topple long reigning WBA champion Chris John who is also an Indonesian legend in December 2013 when Vetyeka shocked the world with a sixth round stoppage win.
The fight was preceded by allegations from Vetyeka’s previous handlers including Durandt and Australian-based recently retired South African boxer Lovemore Ndou that they were owed money by the boxer.
Other people who had made similar claims include top promoter Rodney Berman as well as former boxing trainer Elias Tshabalala.
But Vetyeka has denied the allegations, making his own counter-claims.
Now 35 years old, it is not clear who will guide his career.
Sidinile who even took the boxer to sign with top influential boxing adviser Al Haymon, renowned for being the brains behind US boxer Floyd Mayweather’s wealth, said he would write a letter to Haymon advising him of the split.
Sidinile also attended the WBA Convention in Panama this past December to plead the cases of his boxers including Vetyeka to get high ratings in order to qualify for a world title challenge.
The plea resulted in Vetyeka being rewarded with a fourth rating which puts him in world title contention.
Sidinile could not say if the boxer will maintain his high rating regardless of the split, but added that he would no longer continue with his mission of taking him to a world title challenge.
He added that he would inform US promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Promotions of the split.
Margules is one of the promoters working with Haymon.
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