By Monwabisi Jimlongo
As he is finalising his preparations for next week’s fight against Boonrueang Phayom from Thailand, Sikho Nqothole has made it clear that he’s not interested in fighting for the South African junior-bantamweight title, which is held by Landile Ngxeke.
Instead, Nqothole has insisted that fighting for the SA title would be a step back in his quest for world stardom. Now Nqothole faces Phayom in a 10 rounds bout at the UNISA Conference Centre in Ormonde, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 6 May.
“I’m not looking at challenging for the SA title. Challenging for the SA title would be a backward step. I’ve passed that stage of fighting for the SA title. Actually, I don’t think I will fight against a South African boxer unless it’s for a bigger title,” Nqothole, a World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Global junior-bantamweight champion, said.
Mthatha-born Nqothole, who will be turning 29 in September, is aiming to move up the WBO ratings where he’s currently rated 12th.
“It’s a 10 rounds international bout. After this fight we will see what to do next. My main aim is to defend WBO Global title and then move up the ratings,” Nqothole remarked.
Trained by former SA bantamweight champion Phumzile ‘Sweet Chocolate’ Matyhila, Nqothole has registered 16 wins with 10 stoppages against two losses.
Meanwhile, Nqothole defeated Denmark Quibido from the Philippines at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, to win the then vacant WBO Global junior-bantamweight crown in October last year.
The regulatory body for SA boxing’s motto reads: Renew, Grow, Transform and this ideal, though a noble one, has to be implemented with political will and sincerity. BSA has insisted that more Provincial titles be staged and there’s a conserted effort to ensure all these titles be filled with Champions.
A good step forward to bringing prestige back to the Provincial and National titles should be the insistence that boxers cannot fight for international titles unless they have progressed along that path. Under the old administration of South African National Boxing Board of Control to possess the Provincial title was an honour. I recall former promoter Mike Segal hosting the then Transvaal title and it drew sizable crowds who came to watch the champion defend it. This is a step a believe the regulatory authority needs to consider. The only fighter who can challenge for world honours ought to be the incumbent SA champion. The only fighter who ought to challenge for a SA title should be one of the 9 holding Provincial titlists. That is the only way I foresee the sport being renewed, growing and transformed.