By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Confusion is reigning supreme regarding the sanctioning or non-sanctioning of the vacant South African junior-lightweight title fight between Asanda Gingqi and Sifiso Hlongwane scheduled for the Orlando Community Hall in Soweto on Sunday.
Boxing South Africa (BSA) sanctioning committee chairperson Sakhiwe Sodo has explained why they refused to sanction the title fight while BSA board chairperson Luthando Jack has dismissed claims that he sanctioned the bout.
“After receiving a number of calls from various persons on the above matter, I felt it is in the public interest to indicate the position of the sanctioning committee on the matter. If the fight is sanctioned as a title fight, that is not the work of the sanctioning committee. The sanctioning committee has made it clear that it’s unprecedented in the history of boxing in the country to have a non-rated boxer fighting for a South African title,” Sodo said when called for comment.
In a letter Sodo wrote to Jack on Wednesday, 16 August 2023, he said: “The application for the approval of this title fight has not been followed in line with policy. The South African boxing regulations of 2004 as amended in 2005 even spell out the type of the form that must be used for this purpose. In addition to this challenge, Sfiso Hlongwane is not listed in the top ten rated boxers in the junior-lightweight division. The South African boxing regulations of 2004 as amended in 2005 state that “the official challenger for a national or provincial title shall be the number one rated boxer in Boxing SA’s rating list”.
Sodo added, in his letter to Jack, that the regulations are clear in what should happen in an event where the official challenger is not willing to challenge for the SA title.
“The regulation further states that if the official challenger… is not willing to challenge for the title for whatever reason, the opportunity shall pass to the next highest rated boxer. The regulations make no reference for any such opportunity cascading down to non-rated boxers in the event of the non-availability of rated contenders,” Sodo further wrote.
“Due to the reasons stated above, the sanctioning committee refused to sanction the bout as a title fight, opting to rule that the bout be a non-title fight. The sanctioning and championship policy and rules of Boxing SA state in 6.2 that BSA reserves the right to refuse to sanction any bout or to withdraw its sanction prior to the bout taking place.
“The promoter of Xaba Boxing Promotions Mr Ayanda Matiti is not happy with the decision of the sanctioning committee putting various arguments. All these arguments fail to make Sfiso Hlongwane a rated boxer. The promoter also questions the fact that the boxer is not rated. The chairperson of the ratings committee Mr Andre de Vries states that the boxer has not fought a single fight in the junior-lightweight division. He points out that Sfiso Hlongwane’s last opponent lost seven (7) fights in a row, his previous opponent (a Zimbabwean) has lost all his fights in South Africa by TKO.”
Hlongwane’s last opponent was Ripfumelo Shikwambane, who has not won nor drawn in seven fights. Hlongwane also beat Zimbabwean boxer Tamiwe Chisolola, who has been stopped in his last three fights here on South Africa.
Contacted for comment, Jack saidon Friday: “I do not have those powers.”
