A SPATE of obliterating court defeats of Boxing SA has prompted the regulatory body to adopt a lenient approach to its unprecedented cancellation of tournaments.
As a result Saturday’s tournament presented by Zulu Consortium (ZC) featuring two SA title bouts at the Orient Theatre has been permitted to go ahead after BSA initially cancelled it.
The new relaxed approach by BSA follows two court defeats when the body tried to cancel two tournaments in Port Elizabeth and Bhisho.
BSA pulled the plug on the Premier Boxing League (PBL) tournament in PE citing failure of the promoter to adhere to compliance issues such as the depositing of the purse monies 30 days in advance.
However the Eastern Cape Promoters’ Association (ECPA) successfully challenged the matter in the Port Elizabeth High Court and the tournament took place.
And last weekend BSA also left the court chambers wobbling after Luvuyo Mngxaso challenged its decision to cancel his tournament at the Bhisho Stadium.
The tournament, staged jointly with a music performance by Tru FM, went ahead as planned leaving BSA with egg on its face once again.
And this week was set to be another court battle between BSA and Zulu Consortium when Saturday’s tournament was called off.
By Sunday, Zulu Consortium was already consulting with its legal team to challenge BSA before the two bodies decided to let the boxers do the fighting.
Zulu Consortium director Bongani Zulu confirmed the court action initially planned to challenge the cancellation has been shelved after they reached an agreement with BSA.
“We are no longer going to court now because of the common ground we have reached with BSA,” he said.
However, BSA Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs said Zulu Consortium were sent an e-mail detailing the requirements they should reach to avoid the tournament being called off.
“They were sent the e-mail by the head office with a deadline of this evening ,” he said.
Zulu said he had responded to the requirements and everything was in order.
“We are going ahead with the tournament and boxing fans should brace themselves for action-packed bouts, nothing else.”
ECPA chairman Ayanda Matiti, who was instrumental in the PE court victory over BSA, admitted he had engaged BSA chairwoman Ntambi Ravele to try to find an agreement in the fiasco.
“Look, what is happening does not serve boxing even though promoters are winning these court cases against BSA but boxing as a whole is suffering.
“The current stand-off does not help the sport and we need to find common ground here.”
The main bout will see SA lightweight champion and crowd favourite Xolisani Ndongeni defending his crown against former titleholder Patrick Malinga.
The IBO Intercontinental crown will also be at stake.
The main supporting bout will see Makazole Tete putting his WBA Pan African and SA flyweight crown on the line against former champion Xola Sifama.
There will be other bouts including the provincial heavyweight title clash between newly licensed Donovan Luff against Vusumzi Mlindwa.
Yesterday all the boxers were given a clean bill of health during the premedical at Mdantsane Fitness Joint.
BSA loosens up a bit
As a result Saturday’s tournament presented by Zulu Consortium (ZC) featuring two SA title bouts at the Orient Theatre has been permitted to go ahead after BSA initially cancelled it.
The new relaxed approach by BSA follows two court defeats when the body tried to cancel two tournaments in Port Elizabeth and Bhisho.
BSA pulled the plug on the Premier Boxing League (PBL) tournament in PE citing failure of the promoter to adhere to compliance issues such as the depositing of the purse monies 30 days in advance.
However the Eastern Cape Promoters’ Association (ECPA) successfully challenged the matter in the Port Elizabeth High Court and the tournament took place.
And last weekend BSA also left the court chambers wobbling after Luvuyo Mngxaso challenged its decision to cancel his tournament at the Bhisho Stadium.
The tournament, staged jointly with a music performance by Tru FM, went ahead as planned leaving BSA with egg on its face once again.
And this week was set to be another court battle between BSA and Zulu Consortium when Saturday’s tournament was called off.
By Sunday, Zulu Consortium was already consulting with its legal team to challenge BSA before the two bodies decided to let the boxers do the fighting.
Zulu Consortium director Bongani Zulu confirmed the court action initially planned to challenge the cancellation has been shelved after they reached an agreement with BSA.
“We are no longer going to court now because of the common ground we have reached with BSA,” he said.
However, BSA Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs said Zulu Consortium were sent an e-mail detailing the requirements they should reach to avoid the tournament being called off.
“They were sent the e-mail by the head office with a deadline of this evening ,” he said.
Zulu said he had responded to the requirements and everything was in order.
“We are going ahead with the tournament and boxing fans should brace themselves for action-packed bouts, nothing else.”
ECPA chairman Ayanda Matiti, who was instrumental in the PE court victory over BSA, admitted he had engaged BSA chairwoman Ntambi Ravele to try to find an agreement in the fiasco.
“Look, what is happening does not serve boxing even though promoters are winning these court cases against BSA but boxing as a whole is suffering.
“The current stand-off does not help the sport and we need to find common ground here.”
The main bout will see SA lightweight champion and crowd favourite Xolisani Ndongeni defending his crown against former titleholder Patrick Malinga.
The IBO Intercontinental crown will also be at stake.
The main supporting bout will see Makazole Tete putting his WBA Pan African and SA flyweight crown on the line against former champion Xola Sifama.
There will be other bouts including the provincial heavyweight title clash between newly licensed Donovan Luff against Vusumzi Mlindwa.
Yesterday all the boxers were given a clean bill of health during the premedical at Mdantsane Fitness Joint.
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