Andrew Muchineripi : Boxing
Rumblings, grumblings, mud-slinging and accusations — that is how 1997 will be remembered.
Gauteng Boxing Commission chair Stanley Sono was suspended indefinitely pending an outcome of investigations after spending a night at a Durban hotel on promoter Branco Milenkovic’s account; trainer/manager Nick Durandt stands accused of making racist remarks; and promoter/trainer Jeff Ellis had his licence suspended for six months for allegedly assaulting Milenkovic. However, Ellis has appealed against the sentence.
All sorts of accusations have been levelled against some promoters and officials, but the South African Boxing Commission has given an undertaking to put its house in order by tackling every aspect, from the top to bottom in the new year.
The authorities intend to improve the sport’s tarnished image by taking boxing where it belongs — the number two sport in the country. Unless this is done promptly boxing will suffer a major setback. The credibility of the sport is at stake.
The only way for them to succeed is by acquiring the services of someone who knows the sport and can also market the sport well. A good example is the United Cricket Board’s Dr Ali Bacher who has achieved a great deal and cricket is growing in leaps and bounds in the townships — completely overtaking boxing.
Despite the lack of sponsorship, securing of dates by some promoters and alleged bribery, 33 world title bouts featuring South African boxers were staged this year.
Heavyweight Corrie Sanders, junior flyweight Jacob Matlala, bantamweight Patrick Quka and super middleweight Thulane “Sugarboy” Malinga brought glory to South Africa.
Sanders outpointed American Ross Puritty to win the WBU crown vacated by George Foreman. Matlala became the first local fighter to win the IBA championship when he stopped legendary Michael Carbajal in Las Vegas in July. Quka lifted the vacant WBU title by beating Italian Gianmaria Petriccioli in the 11th round of their scheduled 12 rounder. And last week Malinga outpointed Britain’s Robin Reid to take the WBC super middleweight title.
After making a successful defence of his IBF lightweight title against Pete Taliafarro in March, Phillip Holiday surrendered his title to Shane Moseley in August when he lost on points.
In his only defence of the IBF bantamweight title on July 18, Mbulelo Botile suffered an eighth-round technical knockout defeat at the hands of Tim Austin in Nashville.
Peter Malinga scored a controversial stoppage over Italian Alessandro Duran to win the WBU welterweight title on July 30 but lost his crown in his first defence to the same boxer three months later.
Vuyani “The Beast” Bungu put the country on the map by making his 10th defence of the IBF junior featherweight title when he outclassed Arnel Barotillo of the Phillipines. In two other defences, the Mdantsane idol outpointed former Atlanta Olympic gold-medalist Kennedy McKinney and Mexican Enrique Jupiter.
WBU junior featherweight champion Cassius Baloyi beat compatriot Anton Gilmore on a split decision and went on to defend his title successfully against Mexican Jose Garcia and Laszlo Bognar.
Lehlohonolo “Hands of Stones” Ledwaba outpointed Italian Gianmaria Petriccioli to retain his WBU bantamweight title, but later relinquished it. Ledwaba is likely to be matched against the winner of the WBA super bantamweight title fight between Rafael del Ville and Enrique Sanchez.
Boxers who are likely to add to our glory next year are: junior welterweight Jan Bergman, junior middleweight Harry Simon and lightweight Naas Scheepers.