Joyi fired up to walk the talk to prove who’s boss

A few eyebrows were raised when Nkosinathi Joyi withdrew from his clash against Fikile Mlonyeni in the gigantic September 30 show, famous as the crowning moment of the new kid on the block Azinga Fuzile.

Fuzile dethroned veteran Macbute Sinyabi to announce his arrival to national boxing and most detractors predicted the same fate for Joyi against Mlonyeni with Boxing Mecca even suggesting to fight promoter Ayanda Matiti, who organised the tournament under his Xaba Promotions banner, that he dub the show “Change of Guard”.

But Joyi suddenly pulled out of the fight leaving question marks about his boxing commitment.

It has transpired that Joyi’s withdrawal was a good move as he has since got a bigger fish to fry in the form of Simpiwe Konkco, who he will challenge at Orient Theatre on November 20.

Boxing Mecca sat down with Joyi to find out if he will indeed challenge Konkco.

BOXING MECCA: No official announcement as yet but I hear that you are hard at work preparing for Konkco.

NKOSINATHI JOYI: To say I am hard at work is putting it mildly. I am ready for Konkco as we speak.

BM: Are you telling me that the fight is on for good?

NJ: Yes my bra I am fighting Konkco on bra Mzi’s tribute tournament.

BM: What does this fight mean to you Bhere?

NJ: Everything my bra. You know I was thinking the other day that it is so funny how all the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place with this fight. For instance here I am fighting in a tournament paying tribute to Bra Mzi who helped me win my first world title. Not just my first world title but the very same title I will be fighting for. After everything was said about me and my career now I have been given another chance to start from the beginning and to me this is all biblical. Besides getting back my title I will also get a chance to pay my own tribute to bra Mzi. What else can motivate me more here?

BM: I must say I am sensing a newfound interest and commitment from you that has been lacking for a while in your fights.

NJ: Yhoo my bra you have no idea what this fight means to me and on that score I want to thank everyone who made it possible.

You are absolutely right when you say I sound more interested than I have been in my previous fights. This fight will provide me with an opportunity to right the wrongs bra.

BM: Why did you withdraw from the Mlonyeni fight?

NJ: To be honest with you I suffered an injury in training so I laid off training for a while. But I would have pushed myself to go ahead with the fight if I did not get this opportunity to fight Konkco.

BM: You were scheduled to fight Mlonyeni in the junior-flyweight but now you will be facing Konkco in the mini-flyweight. Does that not give you an extra work to reduce the weight?

NJ: Not at all my bra. I was only taking the Mlonyeni fight because it was offered to me in the junior-flyweight but my natural weight is the mini-flyweight.

BM: How is the weight at the moment?

NJ: You know I am glad you are asking me that because I have been going around with 48kg until my trainer Boy Boy Mpulampula said I should not be this close to weight weeks before the fight. So we had to cut down on too much running so that the weight could pick up again. To answer your question I am ready to rumble as we speak.

BM: Who has been helping you in sparring?

NJ: We have been using a couple of guys but my main sparring partner is Bongani Silila.

BM: What is your feeling about Konkco?

NJ: To be honest with you I do not really know Konkco. I only watched him when he beat Siyo (Siyabonga) and when he lost to Hekkie Budler otherwise I do not know him that well.

He fought well against Budler because he was forcing Budler to fight on the backfoot but I cannot comment about the Siyo fight.

BM: Fortunately you also fought Budler so you are well placed to pass an opinion on Konkco’s loss to Budler.

NJ: Yes I fought Budler and please my bra be honest with me, do you think Budler beat me?

BM: Errr. I really do not know ’Bhere and please do not put me in the corner here. I am the one doing the questioning here.

NJ: I still do not believe Budler beat me. I would have been happy with a draw at least but for the fight to be scored against me? No ways.

BM: OK Joyi, here is my honest opinion about that fight. I also did not see Budler beating you.

I think you even heard stories of me confronting the officials but I am glad to say that one of the officials, Tony Nyangiwe, who I confronted for scoring the fight against you, has since become my close friend.

This just goes to show that sometimes people need catastrophe to get along.

NJ: (laughing). I heard about you and Nyangiwe.

BM: So are you using Budler as a yardstick between you and Konkco?

NJ: Not really but truth is Konkco lost a clear decision to Budler while my own defeat was not as definite. This just goes to show that Konkco and me are not in the same league.

BM: How can you say that when Konkco is the holder of the title you once held?

NJ: This is not meant as disrespect to Konkco but tell me which world-class boxer has he beaten? You cannot list Siyo as a world-class boxer.

BM: You sound quite confident here, ‘Bhere

NJ: Like I said I see this fight as good omen so I cannot be denied.

BM: I heard that Konkco is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations.

NJ: I also heard about that. For instance Ludumo Lamati came to the gym the other day and told me how Konkco is preparing for the fight. But Lamati also told me an important thing when he said regardless of your preparations if a clean punch lands you are bound to go down.

BM: Are you predicting a stoppage, ‘Bhere?

NJ: My bra I won this title by a second round knockout with bra Mzi in the corner. Let’s see how many rounds Konkco will need to survive my power.

BM: You are often criticised that you are stiff-legged in the ring.

NJ: You know that is surprising because I conquered the world with this so called stiff-legged style. People forget my fight against Sammy Gutierrez when I had to use my feet more. Bottom line is one fights according to the style of his opponent. Furthermore, I really do not think I will need to move a lot against Konkco because he will come forward and that will suit me just fine.

BM: What can you say to your supporters?

NJ: All I want is to return to the Mabhere of old. As a result I want to come to the ring riding a motor bike as I used to do before beating up everyone put in front of me.

BM: You have not yet promised your loyal supporters anything Mabhere.

NJ: (laughing). On the day of the premedical or weigh-in I will come up with cash and ask Konkco to do the same to bet on the outcome. I do not want to only talk but to walk the walk as well. Konkco must put up his own cash and I will do the same and the winner will take all.

BM: I must repeat, it is been a while since I saw you this motivated ‘Bhere. Good luck ndoda.

NJ: Thank you my bra. I am only going to take back what was mine – no disrespect to Konkco.