East London will host the next SABCTV televised boxing event next month. This was confirmed by both Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and provincial sports, recreation, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina at the official launch of boxing television at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Friday.
The tournament, presented by BRD Promotions, served as the official return of SABC to televise boxing after a lengthy absence.
The public broadcaster had taken a hiatus in airing any boxing event after top Johannesburg promoter Branco Milenkovic took Boxing SA to court over its insistence that television rights belong to it and not the promoter as had been the norm.
However, Mbalula decided to surge ahead by availing R5-million for the sport to return on television with Gauteng province getting the first nod.
After the glittering box and dine event by BRD Promotions featuring a Gauteng middleweight title clash between Walter Dlamini and Tebogo Molose, Mbalula revealed that the next venue would be East London.
“We are going to the Mecca of boxing next and this is where plenty of action is expected, “ he said from ringside.
Majodina added that the tournament would be a Xaba Promotions (XP) event which will be held to celebrate the birthday of the late struggle icon Nelson Mandela on July 24.
“This could not have been a more fitting moment for SABCTV’s return to the province than to televise the celebration of our tata on July 24,” she said.
While the tournament in Boksburg featured thrilling bouts, especially the international bantamweight clash between Klaas Mboyane and Tapiwa Tembo, Majodina poured cold water on the show, saying the July 24 tournament would show South Africans what boxing is all about.
“To me this tournament is nothing compared to what we will deliver on July 24. We are already known as the boxing Mecca in the land and I invite South Africans to witness that.”
SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said he was glad that the July 24 event would feature world title fights.
“This is exactly what we wanted and July 24 could not have been a better event for us as we go to the Mecca of boxing,” he said.
XP boss Ayanda Matiti said the BRD Promotions tournament was just a curtain-raiser to a real boxing show.
“I am saying this is just a curtain-raiser to what the real return of boxing on television will be all about,” he said.
Mbalula dismissed reports that only one tournament would be televised per month.
“I do not know where this all comes from because there are provinces such as the Eastern Cape which have regular tournaments. I invite promoters to come up with quality tournaments and we will make sure that they get television coverage,” he said.
In the main bout Mboyane scored a split decision win over Tembo in an action-packed fight.
“The bout between Mboyane and Tembo was the best for me and this is what we wanted, “ Mbalula said.
However the minister was not too thrilled by the draw between Dlamini and Molose – describing it as an average fight.
“Maybe the two boxers did not have enough time to prepare for this fight but let us all go to East London where we will see explosive bouts.”
Matiti said he would call a press conference to announce the bouts on his tournament tomorrow.
However Ali Funeka has been confirmed as topping the tournament and he will defend his IBO welterweight title against Limpopo’s Tsiko Mulovhedzi while Lwandile Sityatha will defend his IBO junior bantamweight belt against Gideon Buthelezi.
City set to host next TV event
The tournament, presented by BRD Promotions, served as the official return of SABC to televise boxing after a lengthy absence.
The public broadcaster had taken a hiatus in airing any boxing event after top Johannesburg promoter Branco Milenkovic took Boxing SA to court over its insistence that television rights belong to it and not the promoter as had been the norm.
However, Mbalula decided to surge ahead by availing R5-million for the sport to return on television with Gauteng province getting the first nod.
After the glittering box and dine event by BRD Promotions featuring a Gauteng middleweight title clash between Walter Dlamini and Tebogo Molose, Mbalula revealed that the next venue would be East London.
“We are going to the Mecca of boxing next and this is where plenty of action is expected, “ he said from ringside.
Majodina added that the tournament would be a Xaba Promotions (XP) event which will be held to celebrate the birthday of the late struggle icon Nelson Mandela on July 24.
“This could not have been a more fitting moment for SABCTV’s return to the province than to televise the celebration of our tata on July 24,” she said.
While the tournament in Boksburg featured thrilling bouts, especially the international bantamweight clash between Klaas Mboyane and Tapiwa Tembo, Majodina poured cold water on the show, saying the July 24 tournament would show South Africans what boxing is all about.
“To me this tournament is nothing compared to what we will deliver on July 24. We are already known as the boxing Mecca in the land and I invite South Africans to witness that.”
SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said he was glad that the July 24 event would feature world title fights.
“This is exactly what we wanted and July 24 could not have been a better event for us as we go to the Mecca of boxing,” he said.
XP boss Ayanda Matiti said the BRD Promotions tournament was just a curtain-raiser to a real boxing show.
“I am saying this is just a curtain-raiser to what the real return of boxing on television will be all about,” he said.
Mbalula dismissed reports that only one tournament would be televised per month.
“I do not know where this all comes from because there are provinces such as the Eastern Cape which have regular tournaments. I invite promoters to come up with quality tournaments and we will make sure that they get television coverage,” he said.
In the main bout Mboyane scored a split decision win over Tembo in an action-packed fight.
“The bout between Mboyane and Tembo was the best for me and this is what we wanted, “ Mbalula said.
However the minister was not too thrilled by the draw between Dlamini and Molose – describing it as an average fight.
“Maybe the two boxers did not have enough time to prepare for this fight but let us all go to East London where we will see explosive bouts.”
Matiti said he would call a press conference to announce the bouts on his tournament tomorrow.
However Ali Funeka has been confirmed as topping the tournament and he will defend his IBO welterweight title against Limpopo’s Tsiko Mulovhedzi while Lwandile Sityatha will defend his IBO junior bantamweight belt against Gideon Buthelezi.
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