Olympian Lusizi finds new stable

Thando Zonke Promotions (TZP) has promised to revive the career of Olympian Siphiwe Lusizi, who signed with the company this week.

Lusizi dropped a bombshell, when he penned a two-year contract with TZP.

What raised eyebrows about the pact is the boxer, who has only fought five times without a loss has already changed promoters three times.

Lusizi made his professional debut amid fanfare when he signed with Sijuta Promotions after controversially leaving the amateur ranks despite not completing the Sascoc Opec programme.

The controversial programme sees Olympics medal hopefuls undergoing specialised preparations for the Olympics and only ends after the four year Olympics circle.

But Lusizi and another Mdantsane boxer, Thulani Mbenge, left the programme sparking Sascoc to threaten to force them to recoup the money spent on them.

Lusizi signed with Sijuta and appeared to be on the fast lane to stardom, when he won his next three bouts by knockouts.

When Sijuta was hit by ambiguity of boxer-non payment Lusizi jumped ship to fight under Xaba Promotions where he had just two bouts.

Now he has forged relations with TZP as his career appears to be regressing.

TZP boss Thando Zonke said: “Look at what Mbenge has been able to do while Matukuza is yet to be prove himself.”

While Lusizi has not set the house on fire in the professional ranks as yet with almost all his opponents seemingly scared of him, the situation has been made worse by lack of opponents, in the region, in the division that he wishes to compete in –– the middleweight division.

He had to be content with getting opponents transported from other provinces and that has proven to be an expensive exercise as they want to be properly compensated.

But Zonke wants Lusizi to prove if he is indeed destined for stardom. This has forced him to even look for slots in other promoters’ tournaments.

“For instance we are currently engaged in talks with Reel Steel to feature him in their show in March,” he said.

And the opponent under consideration is Alfonzo Tissen, who surprised East London’s boxing hopeful, Giovanne Bushby, when he held him to a draw.

Zonke says the fight will feature the WBA Pan African crown, which would give Lusizi’s career a quantum leap towards international stardom.

“I think beating Tissen will give Lusizi his dues and finally prove if he is indeed destined for big things.”

Lusizi is still frowned upon as the real deal with his detractors arguing that he benefited from connections to make his mark at the amateur ranks.

The boxer was one of only two fighters that represented South Africa at the London Olympics with the other one being Ayabonga Sonjica.

Since then no boxer has been able to qualify for the Olympics.