By Monwabisi Jimlongo
The fight to make sure that South African junior-lightweight champion Phila Mpontshane gets 10 percent of the purse he signed for before his fight against Sibusiso Zingange was cancelled, continues.
The clash was called off two days before its actual date after Mpontshane and his trainer Dudu Bungu tested positive for COVID-19. Mpontshane’s manager Andy Mtshotshisa has since then been fighting for his charge to get the 10 percent of the purse, but his efforts have hit a brick wall.
Mtshotshisa alleged after the fight was cancelled that they were treated badly and were even booked in sub-standard accommodation something which irked TK Boxing Promotions boss and Gauteng Boxing Promoters Association (GBPA) chairman Tshele Kometsi.
It was, however, expected that the impasse would be solved on Tuesday after Boxing South Africa (BSA) had called a meeting with Mtshotshisa and Kometsi. But the meeting didn’t take place as it was cancelled at the eleventh hour.
The cancelled meeting was called after Kometsi wrote to BSA director of operations Mandla Ntlanganiso setting down conditions they wanted to be met before considering paying Mpontshane 10 percent of the agreed purse.
In the letter Kometsi said that both Mpontshane and Mtshotshisa must apologise through the media before their demand of a 10 percent could be entertained.
“Apologies must be through media houses and social media. Remove any defamatory or derogatory statements made by them about the two above mentioned institutions on all social media pages,” Kometsi said in the letter.
“Be honest about where they were booked as that is not a brothel. Should either one of them choose not to apologise as an individual there will be no relief paid.”
Ntlanganiso said when asked about the meeting: “The meeting didn’t take place. We still have to speak to both sides and then reconvene the meeting.”
Meanwhile, Mpontshane is working very hard at the gym preparing for his clash against Zingange, which is going to be his fifth defence of the SA title. This collision between Mpontshane and Zingange is scheduled for the EFC Centre in Johannesburg, on Thursday, 24 February.
