By Monwabisi Jimlongo
There’s a twist in South African flyweight champion Jackson ‘M3’ Chauke’s title defence against Phumelela Cafu scheduled for East London’s International Convention Centre (ICC) on Sunday, 27 March.
This comes after Sinethemba Kotana’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene wrote a letter to Boxing South Africa (BSA) questioning the sanctioning of seventh-rated Cafu ahead of boxers like number one-rated Thabang Ramagole and Kotana, who is rated fourth.
Luyanda Ntwanambe is second with Mpho Seforo third while Sihle Jelwana and Tiisetso Modisadife are fifth and sixth respectively. Ntwanambe doesn’t qualify to challenge Chauke after losing to him last year while Seforo has a fight against Afghanistan-born boxer Quaise Khademi in England next month.
“I wrote a letter to the COO as a matter of principle. I asked about the status of the flyweight because we have an interest in that division,” Tengimfene confirmed on Tuesday.
“Kotana has been active while Cafu last fought in 2019. Chauke fought and won in April last year. However, an opportunity for a voluntary defence has passed. He is now due for a mandatory defence. My question is based on principle. It should be us challenging Chauke if Ramagole is not interested. We need clarity on why Cafu’s challenge was sanctioned.”
Meanwhile, BSA director of operations Mandla Ntlanganiso has confirmed that they received a letter from Tengimfene on Monday.
“We have received correspondence from Kotana’s manager concerning the matter. We are going to respond soon,” Ntlanganiso said.
