Buffalo City pugilists rule roost at national awards

Buffalo City region is expected to make a clean sweep at the national boxing awards scheduled to be held at Durban International Convention Centre on January 28.

The awards will be making a long awaited return to Boxing SA (BSA) calendar after a lengthy absence as the regulatory body is navigating through a myriad of financial challenges.

BSA released a list of 16 categories with three nominees in each in what should be fiercely contested accolades in years.

But the Buffalo City region, which has been enjoying fruitful boxing even when other regions were hit by national television blackouts, is expected to rule the roost in almost all the categories its athletes are nominated in.

Expected to win the women boxer of the year will be new East London recruit and Seymour-born Sharrodene Fortuin who is nominated alongside other Eastern Cape-born boxers Leighandre Jegels from the city and Idutywa-born but North West-based Bukiwe Nonina.

While Fortuin’s record has a blemish owing to her loss to Nonina, she has since rebounded to win crucial bouts including winning the IBO world junior bantamweight crown.

Last month, she added the WBA international diadem to her collection.

Nonina’s achievements, however, should not be scoffed at as she became the first SA women boxer to retain her SA title five times.

Jegels, whose achievements also include winning the SA junior bantamweight crown, is also capable of upsetting the odds.

But Fortuin’s promoter Thando Zonke is confident that his charge will rise above the rest.

“To be honest with you, I do not see anyone challenging Shezz for the boxer of the year award,” he said.

The male boxer of the year will be another hotly contested category where all the nominees are Eastern Cape boxers, Xolisani Ndongeni, Simpiwe Konkco and Zolani Tete.

But Tete’s achievements are beyond any of his peers’ reach, especially as his Paul Butler fight is included.

This is when the Mdantsane southpaw went to England as a sacrificial lamb to serve as an object for Butler’s crowning moment which included him breaking a 105 British record of winning a world title in a heavier division then drop down to win another in a lighter division had he beaten Tete.

This as Butler had won the IBF bantamweight crown and relinquished it to try to take Tete’s version of the throne in the junior bantamweight division.

Having never tasted defeat, Butler was expected to easily deal with the unknown lanky African southpaw.

But Tete dominated the fight before he knocked out the Englishman with a left uppercut to make the world sit up and take notice. Tete’s incredible win prompted Butler’s promoter Frank Warren to sign him up as part of his Queensberry Promotions client.

Since the win, Tete has been fighting in England where he recorded two stoppage wins to enhance his world class credentials

“No one gave us a chance against Butler but we came home triumphant,” Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene said.

Konkco’s duel against Hekkie Budler should be voted the fight of the year while Fortuin’s war against Brazilian Simone Da Silva should get the nod.

Boxing sensation Azinga Fuzile should dominate the prospect of the year category where he is up against another worthy contestant Thulani Mbenge of Mdantsane and Brendon Thysse. No honour can surpass Tete’s highlight reel knockout of Butler in the knockout of the year category while Luyanda “Lee” Kana is head and shoulders above the rest in the matchmaker of the year list.

Siya Vabaza should walk away with the honours for women official of the year while Mandisi Mkile is odds on favourite for the most promising official.

Fuzile’s trainer Chief Njekanye will have a strong competition from Colin Nathan for the trainer of the year accolade while Tengimfene should be an obvious choice for manager of the year so is Xaba Promotions and Events in the promoter of the year award.

Rumble Africa Promotions should wrap up proceedings by walking away with the most promising promoter award.