Mdantsane boxer Simpiwe Vetyeka was caught in the political differences between Arabs and the Irish when his scheduled fight in Morocco was called off at the eleventh hour.
Vetyeka was one of the boxers scheduled to fight at the Complexe Sport if Mohammed V in Casablanca in a Gary Hayde-promoted show on Saturday.
Hayde is an Irish boxing manager who was organising the tournament which was to be headlined by his new recruit Mohammed Rabii of Morocco.
Rabii is arguably the most popular Moroccan boxer who draws millions of viewers every time his fight are shown on television.
He is a gold medalist from the world amateur boxing championships and a bronze medalist from the Rio Olympic games.
He was scheduled to make his professional debut against Hungarian opponent Adam Mate in a welterweight clash in the main bout.
Vetyeka, who was also scheduled to face a Hungarian foe in David Berna, is also managed by Hayde.
However just after all the boxers arrived in Casablanca a group of Arabs contacted the authorities and expressed objection to Hayde to organise a tournament in their city.
Speaking from Morocco yesterday, Vetyeka confirmed that they had been informed that the show would not take place because the Arabs objected to an Irish person promoting it in their country.
“We were already prepared for our respective bouts having trained our butts off,” he said.
“But we were told that there was no way that an Irish manager can organise a tournament in Morocco and benefit in the popularity of a Moroccan boxer.”
Vetyeka, who has to make a debut under Hyde since signing with him last year, was gutted with the developments.
The Mdantsane boxer was to fight for the first time since April last year when he beat Japanese boxer Tsuyoshi Tameda at Orient Theatre in a Sijuta Promotions show.
He had been subjected to a nine-month inactivity which hindered his aspirations to regain the world title he was unlucky to surrender to Filipino Nonito Donaire in Macau in 2014.
“To say I am disappointed would be an understatement,” he said.
“I badly needed this fight to shake off the rust before I can go for a world title shot.”
While he is among the boxers who were left stuck in Morocco, Vetyeka spared a thought for Hyde who he said had done everything to make the tournament a success.
“You can imagine the expenses Gary incurred by flying and accommodating us here only to be told that there would be no tournament.”
Asked if Hyde was not aware of the possible objection Vetyeka said: “ I guess these people waited until we were all here before making their intentions known otherwise I doubt Gary would have brought us here.”
Other boxers who were scheduled to fight in the tournament include another Hyde client Youri Kalenga of the Democratic Republic Congo but now based in France.
Kalenga was to face US opponent Garret Wilson in a cruiserweight clash while Dutch boxer Gevorg Khatchikian was to take on Ugandan Med Sebyala.
Vetyeka in Moroccan bout drama
Vetyeka was one of the boxers scheduled to fight at the Complexe Sport if Mohammed V in Casablanca in a Gary Hayde-promoted show on Saturday.
Hayde is an Irish boxing manager who was organising the tournament which was to be headlined by his new recruit Mohammed Rabii of Morocco.
Rabii is arguably the most popular Moroccan boxer who draws millions of viewers every time his fight are shown on television.
He is a gold medalist from the world amateur boxing championships and a bronze medalist from the Rio Olympic games.
He was scheduled to make his professional debut against Hungarian opponent Adam Mate in a welterweight clash in the main bout.
Vetyeka, who was also scheduled to face a Hungarian foe in David Berna, is also managed by Hayde.
However just after all the boxers arrived in Casablanca a group of Arabs contacted the authorities and expressed objection to Hayde to organise a tournament in their city.
Speaking from Morocco yesterday, Vetyeka confirmed that they had been informed that the show would not take place because the Arabs objected to an Irish person promoting it in their country.
“We were already prepared for our respective bouts having trained our butts off,” he said.
“But we were told that there was no way that an Irish manager can organise a tournament in Morocco and benefit in the popularity of a Moroccan boxer.”
Vetyeka, who has to make a debut under Hyde since signing with him last year, was gutted with the developments.
The Mdantsane boxer was to fight for the first time since April last year when he beat Japanese boxer Tsuyoshi Tameda at Orient Theatre in a Sijuta Promotions show.
He had been subjected to a nine-month inactivity which hindered his aspirations to regain the world title he was unlucky to surrender to Filipino Nonito Donaire in Macau in 2014.
“To say I am disappointed would be an understatement,” he said.
“I badly needed this fight to shake off the rust before I can go for a world title shot.”
While he is among the boxers who were left stuck in Morocco, Vetyeka spared a thought for Hyde who he said had done everything to make the tournament a success.
“You can imagine the expenses Gary incurred by flying and accommodating us here only to be told that there would be no tournament.”
Asked if Hyde was not aware of the possible objection Vetyeka said: “ I guess these people waited until we were all here before making their intentions known otherwise I doubt Gary would have brought us here.”
Other boxers who were scheduled to fight in the tournament include another Hyde client Youri Kalenga of the Democratic Republic Congo but now based in France.
Kalenga was to face US opponent Garret Wilson in a cruiserweight clash while Dutch boxer Gevorg Khatchikian was to take on Ugandan Med Sebyala.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos