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‘Bad luck’ Nomeva to fight soon

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UNFORTUNATE:  Xolisani Ndongeni says he is disappointed that his fight was cancelled at the last minute. (Lee Warren, Gallo Images)
UNFORTUNATE: Xolisani Ndongeni says he is disappointed that his fight was cancelled at the last minute. (Lee Warren, Gallo Images)

Johannesburg - Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni is relieved that, after some setbacks, he will be able to make money from boxing when he features in a tournament at Emperors Palace on July 23.

Golden Gloves promotions has promised Ndongeni a chance to slug it out against a local opponent in a 10-round lightweight bout.

This comes two weeks after Nomeva was caught up in yet another boxing nonpayment controversy. His scheduled nontitle bout against Ghanaian Razak Nettey, which was billed for Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch on May 28, was cancelled at the last minute when Lizani Events promoter Mzoli Tempi could not put up the purse money.

Promised to match

Ndongeni is owed R1 million by promoter Dicksy Ngqula after he won the Premier Boxing League tournament in the Eastern Cape in 2015.

He did not receive his R100 000 cut for his 10-round lightweight scrap against Tanzanian Emilio Norfat in April last year. He featured in the Sijuta Promotions showdown in which promoter Andile Sidinile failed to pay fighters’ purses for an event that took place at the University of Fort Hare Sports Complex in Alice in the Eastern Cape.

Boxing South Africa (BSA) settled the payment on behalf of Sidinile, who subsequently had his promoters’ licence suspended.

“I’m happy that I will be able to make some money as promoter Rodney Berman has promised to match me against a local guy,” said Ndongeni.

“I think I have bad luck because this issue of unpaid purses is happening to me the third time now. This is now beginning to affect my boxing career”.

The Mount Frere, Eastern Cape-based fighter said that, even though he did not throw a single punch against Nettey in the cancelled fight, “I could have at least competed and made some money”.

Fund the event

BSA CEO Tsholofelo Lejaka said the development brought local boxing into disrepute.

“The promoter will probably be summoned soon to explain himself. BSA will leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of the matter,” said Lejaka.

“The contracts state that if a tournament is cancelled for whatever reason other than the fault of boxers, the boxers are entitled to a 10% cut of the purse money”.

Even though the tournament was canned, Tempi was still liable for the payment of boxers – if he does not pay, he risks having his licence suspended.

Tempi expressed remorse for not staging the event, saying he had a benefactor who had promised to fund the event, but that certain requirements weren’t met.

Affected me badly

“We failed to comply with a BSA rule, which is that of depositing purse money 14 days prior to an event,” Tempi said.

“I am taking full responsibility and apologise to the boxing fraternity for the cancellation. This whole thing has affected me badly, and my family are also feeling the strain. I hope things will cool down.”

Golden Gloves publicist Jeff Ellis said Ndongeni would probably be matched against Patrick Malinga.

The two met for the International Boxing Organisation international title fight at the Orient Theatre in East London in 2014, with Ndongeni winning on points.

“The fight is currently being discussed. The fighters will sign contracts soon,” said Ellis.

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