BONGANI MAGASELA, Cape Town | Sunday
AIDS has been acknowledged as a serious threat to SA boxing while a number of rules and regulations could be amended or done away with when Boxing South Africa comes into effect next year.
This became clear at the national convention in Cape Town on Saturday after separate reports from all licencees.
But representatives from all nine provinces unanimously agreed that HIV/Aids was a serious threat to boxing.
Issues surrounding safety, development, a new boxing commission and age limitations were also dealt with.
A group of officials and secretaries agreed that Boxing South Africa should employ a Director of Referees and judges.
Remunerations to officials, would, in future, be set at a flat rate.
To protect officials who could either be killed or assaulted for dubious decisions, an insurance fund would be set up early next year.
The officials, who sometimes attended tournaments while not on duty, were advised not to sit at the ringside, while Boxing SA employees should not become referees and judges, because it was felt they would be biased.
The cutoff age remained at 35, but only for first time applicants. Ageing fighters such as 40-year-old Baby Jake Matlala, who never took a break from fighting, would not be affected.
It was also agreed that boxers be tested quarterly for HIV/Aids and a counselling structure would be established to assist those affected.
The status quo will remain the same between a boxer and a promoter in regard to contracts, meaning that a boxer will only sign a fight contract with the trainer.
Promoter Branco Milenkovic gave a brief presentation on purse bids but it was felt that promoters in South Africa were not ready for that innovation.
A three knockout rule should not automatically disqualify fighters, but it was agreed that it would be up to the referees to use discretion.
The issues surrounding sparring sessions between professional boxers and amateurs at gyms was left to the discretion of managers.
Dreadlocked boxers were also let off the hook when it was agreed that they must only ensure that they were presentable.
Random drug tests will now also take place. It was also agreed that a new boxing commission should be elected democratically and not appointed, while weigh-ins would be conducted 24-hours before the day of the contest.
In addition, promoters who send local boxers abroad without the approval of the national commission could find themselves in hot water.
Maurice Owen, who gave a presentation on business of boxing internationally, advised licencees not to send their charges overseas ”as cannon fodder”.
”Those actions are not good for boxing at all,” he said. ”Upcoming boxers cannot travel abroad and fight A graded boxers.” – Sapa