Johannesburg-based boxing trainer Alan Toweel has petitioned Boxing South Africa (BSA) seeking answers after SA bantamweight champion Ronald Malindi failed to indicate as to when he will defend his title against Rofhiwa Nemushungwa.
A letter BSA sent to Malindi on 23 March gave the boxer 30 days to make arrangements with a promoter to stage the fight and added that failure to do so would force the organisation to order him to defend his title at a gym or venue chosen by the boxing body.
The letter also added that failure to make arrangements to defend the national crown might result in BSA declaring the title vacant.
The 30-day period ended on 23 April something which has led Toweel to believe that BSA needs to act against Malindi, especially after the boxer’s trainer Bernie Pailman declined an offer from TK Boxing Promotions boss Tshele Kometsi for a title defence against Nemushungwa on Sunday, 29 May.
“I have written to Mandla (Ntlanganiso) reminding him of the 30 days as per the letter they sent to Malindi in March. We have already signed the contract to fight against Malindi on the 28th of May. I have heard that Malindi’s camp has declined the offer saying the fight is too short notice. I want to know from BSA as to what the next step is now,” Toweel, who trains Nemushungwa, said.
Unbeaten Malindi, who has been an SA champion since September 2018, last fought when he successfully defended his title against Lwandile Sityatha in March 2020.
Efforts to get a comment from BSA director of operations Mandla Ntlanganiso drew a blank as his phone was consistently unanswered.
