Deon Potgieter Boxing
South African boxing administration, suffering from allegations of favouritism and vested interests, is failing to transform itself as ordered by the government – which stepped in to solve the infighting.
Minister of Sport Steve Tshwete set up an interim boxing commission to restructure the sport’s administration when the South African National Boxing Control Commission was disbanded on February 1 this year.
One of the interim commission’s top priorities was to advertise for a candidate for a new permanent commission’s executive director. This is to be a high-profile position, equal in status to that of Ali Bacher’s in cricket.
Initially, however, only a small advert was placed in the Sowetan newspaper. When objections were raised about the limited exposure, a smaller advert was placed in the The Star’s classified section. Both are regional newspapers.
This was allegedly done as the interim commission already had three candidates in mind for the post and did not want to encourage any further applications, a boxing source said.
The interim commission was formed out of recommendations by the Tshwete-appointed boxing transition team, which formulated the way ahead for South African boxing.
Tshwete approved the appointment of the interim body’s members from public applications. They are tasked with setting up elections in June for the new permanent administrator, the National Boxing Control Commission.
It is widely thought the bulk of interim commissioners will become the permanent members.
Boxing in South Africa has been going through an uneasy transition. Stan Christodolou, the former executive director of the old body and the highly respected judge who was lauded for scoring Lennox Lewis the winner in his controversial drawn bout with Evander Holyfield last month, was forced to resign along with his committee owing to pressure from the boxing industry.
Once Christodolou’s former executive director post is filled, the next most important position is for a media and marketing director, to handle the promotion of boxing and a cleaner image. No advertisements have yet been placed for this post.
The interim commission has also been hit with allegations of favouritism when it comes to choosing fight contenders.
Some promoters feel their fighters are overlooked for national title fights, while others, who on merit have not earned the right to challenge, are given the lucrative opportunities.
In one instance, although other more highly rated challengers were available, One Boy Makwelo was given a shot at challenging Enoch Zitha for his national lightweight title on February 21. Makwelo may be a top 10 contender but he had not boxed for 17 months. Furthermore, in his last fight he was knocked out by the same man Zitha had floored to win the title originally.
In another example, two higher ranked contenders for Lawrence Kgobeni’s junior welterweight title have been overlooked, while the number 10 challenger has been preferred for the fight in two weeks time.
This sort of mismatching for the national title not only cheapens the value of the title but also provides no entertainment value for fight fans and thereby lowers the interest in the sport.
Allegations of favouritism and manipulation are not new to the world of boxing. But the local industry has been hoping that a new broom would sweep clean.
Tshwete told the sport’s national convention in East London last year: “Sports leaders should not take the view that they are doing participants a favour by serving them and should also not treat their sports organisations as their own individual fiefdoms.
“The best test for establishing whether a sports administrator has outlived his/her usefulness is when he/she starts to think that they own their sports organisations,” added Tshwete, who has locked horns with both rugby and cricket administrators.
Gibson Thula, chair of the interim boxing commission, and Mthobi Tyamzashe, the sport ministry’s director general, could not be reached for comment.