Simpiwe Vetyeka’s management has insisted that the unrated boxer will be eligible to contest for the WBA featherweight title if he beats Colombian Rudolfo Puente this Saturday.
Vetyeka meets the Colombian at Selborne Park Tennis Court in defence of his WBA international crown in a blockbuster show featuring an IBO lightweight title clash between crowd-puller Xolisani Ndongeni and Limpopo-born Jasper Seroka.
There will be other potentially thrilling bouts on the card involving Mzuvukile Magwaca, Siyabonga Siyo and local female hero Leighandre Jegels.
However the spotlight is on Vetyeka after the latest ratings showed him nowhere to be found.
This when his promoter Andile Sidinile of Sijuta Promotions is negotiating for his charge to challenge for the WBA regular title if he beats Puente.
However a boxer can only be approved to challenge for a world title if he is rated in the top ten.
Sidinile admitted that Vetyka was removed from the ratings because of inactivity but argued that it will not minimise his chances of fighting for a world title next March.
“The WBA wrote to us and informed us that Vetyeka would be removed from the ratings but he will be reinstated as soon as he wins a fight,” he said.
Sidinile added that the fact that Puente is highly rated by the WBA would catapult Vetyeka into the title mix should he win.
“This is no concern to us because things are looking good for us only if Vetyeka wins his fight. He has not fought for close to a year so the rules are clear.”
Vetyeka was last in action when he beat Mexican Arturo Reyes at Orient Theatre last December to win the WBA International title.
There have been rumours that he has been stripped of his International title due to inactivity but again Sidinile refuted the reports.
He said he explained to the WBA that Vetyeka would be in action by November and the Panama-based world body allowed him to hang on to his title.
“Look the general rule before being stripped is that you must indicate if there is any fight scheduled and if there is none then you get stripped.”
Sidinile plans to attend the WBA Convention in Panama from December 13 to plead for Vetyeka to be approved for the regular title challenge.
Win will get ‘V12’ back in contention
Vetyeka meets the Colombian at Selborne Park Tennis Court in defence of his WBA international crown in a blockbuster show featuring an IBO lightweight title clash between crowd-puller Xolisani Ndongeni and Limpopo-born Jasper Seroka.
There will be other potentially thrilling bouts on the card involving Mzuvukile Magwaca, Siyabonga Siyo and local female hero Leighandre Jegels.
However the spotlight is on Vetyeka after the latest ratings showed him nowhere to be found.
This when his promoter Andile Sidinile of Sijuta Promotions is negotiating for his charge to challenge for the WBA regular title if he beats Puente.
However a boxer can only be approved to challenge for a world title if he is rated in the top ten.
Sidinile admitted that Vetyka was removed from the ratings because of inactivity but argued that it will not minimise his chances of fighting for a world title next March.
“The WBA wrote to us and informed us that Vetyeka would be removed from the ratings but he will be reinstated as soon as he wins a fight,” he said.
Sidinile added that the fact that Puente is highly rated by the WBA would catapult Vetyeka into the title mix should he win.
“This is no concern to us because things are looking good for us only if Vetyeka wins his fight. He has not fought for close to a year so the rules are clear.”
Vetyeka was last in action when he beat Mexican Arturo Reyes at Orient Theatre last December to win the WBA International title.
There have been rumours that he has been stripped of his International title due to inactivity but again Sidinile refuted the reports.
He said he explained to the WBA that Vetyeka would be in action by November and the Panama-based world body allowed him to hang on to his title.
“Look the general rule before being stripped is that you must indicate if there is any fight scheduled and if there is none then you get stripped.”
Sidinile plans to attend the WBA Convention in Panama from December 13 to plead for Vetyeka to be approved for the regular title challenge.
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