Sharadene Fortuin is disappointed and at the same time understanding following the postponement of the J4Joy Promotions tournament, which was set for Friday, 30 July.
Fortuin was due to challenge reigning South African female bantamweight champion Melissa Miller from Eldorado Park at the Graceland Casino in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
The tournament received a knockout blow from the effects of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
State President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening that the country would move to alert level 4 something which forced J4Joy Promotions boss Jacob Mnisi to postpone his tournament.
“It’s disappointing, but I understand the circumstances behind the postponement. There is nothing we can do because COVID-19 is dangerous and it kills. We were informed yesterday about the postponement of the tournament,” Fortuin said.
Seymour-born Fortuin, who has not fought since she defeated Thema Zuma in December 2018, is confident of fighting again despite the disappointment.
“I’m still confident and hopeful we will fight soon. What BSA said is giving us hope,” the former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) female bantamweight champion said.
Boxing South Africa (BSA) issued a statement on Monday evening saying that tournaments can go ahead as long as they are going to finish at 8pm to allow all participants and personnel including officials to make it to their respective residences before the 9pm curfew.
Meanwhile, Nkululeko Mhlongo was due to to fight against John Bopape in a World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan-African middleweight title contest in the same tournament. Bopape outpointed Mhlongo in Durban earlier this year.
