The well documented split of boxing golden boy Azinga Fuzile from his long-time trainer Mzamo Njekanye finally exploded into the open when the pair met for the first time at the premedical at Mdantsane Motion Fitness in Mdantsane on Thursday.
Fuzile was there with his new trainer, Colin Nathan, for the premedical of his highly-anticipated IBF Africa junior-lightweight title clash against Malcolm Klassen, scheduled to be held at Orient Theatre on Sunday.
Njekanye also attended the premedical with his other boxer, Siphosethu Mvula, who will face Prince Dlomo in an ABU lightweight title clash on the undercard.
While other boxers focused on undergoing medical examination by doctors to determine their readiness of the fight, Njekanye took Fuzile aside and gave him a tongue-lashing.
In a tirade which lasted over 10 minutes, Njekanye poured his heart out at the boxer he had developed from the age of 10 years.
Fuzile has since become a boxing star winning several national and international titles at only 22 years old.
Njekanye, who had a mouthful when he lost the boxer to Nathan, refused to repeat what he had been saying to the boxer.
But Fuzile confirmed that his ex-trainer was giving him a tongue-lashing.
“He just spoke and I listened,” he said.
Fuzile said Njekanye did not even wish him good luck but “he just gave me a tongue-lashing”.
Fuzile only managed to escape from the tirade when he was called up for his turn to be examined.
Even then Njekanye was not done with him as he told him to meet him after the fight.
But the boxer says he will not meet his former mentor again.
“I will just go straight to Johannesburg after the fight,” he said.
Despite the unsettling confrontation, Fuzile allayed any fears of being sidetracked.
“No, that will not happen. I am mentally strong.”
Regarding the fight he promised to unleash his fury against Klassen.
“One thing I can promise is that if the fight is not a total dominance then Klassen will be knocked out.”
Klassen, who was a few grams overweight, insinuated that he could be robbed as he would be fighting Fuzile, the referee, the judges and the fans.
“I know coming down here the odds will be stacked against me,” he said making a reference to the time when he last came down to East London to knock out local boxer Xolani Mcotheli.
“Against Mcotheli everything was against me but I prevailed. I am expecting a similar reception but that will not deter me.”
Klassen’s trainer, Benny Pailman, said he would have been more worried if Fuzile was still with Njekanye.
“Now he has a new trainer so the pressure will be on him to perform and prove that he made a right decision to leave his trainer. If he was still with his previous trainer that would have been tough because he knows him inside out.”
The tournament, which will be organised by Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP), will feature six regional titles as well as the battle for the national junior-lightweight between defending champion Phila Mpontshane and Anthony Molosiane.
Fuzile will be defending his IBF Africa junior-lightweight crown against Klassen who is the former two-time IBF champion in the division.
The fight will be shown live by SuperSport starting at 2pm...