A furious Xaba Boxing Promotions (XBP) boss Ayanda Matiti has given his Kay B Promotions counterpart Mzi Booi a dressing down in a letter he penned to him on Tuesday.
Matiti wrote to Booi and copied Boxing South Africa (BSA) technical assistant Mncedisi Ngqumba in the aftermath of collapsed negotiations regarding SA featherweight Zolisa Batyi’s title defence against Lindokuhle Khuzwayo.
“I was really hoping that our first interaction will not degenerate to this level. However, we are here now. Let me indulge you Mzi. Let me first indicate that this deadline as set by you is baseless and irrelevant and indeed is a waste of time for you and undermine your intentions and the process you initiated yourself,” Matiti wrote.
“I must also indicate to you that your conduct and your miscalculations and I’m not sure who’s misguiding you so badly or poorly advising you. However, this will invariably move this thing away from you.”
While he continued addressing Booi, Matiti added that it has always been his wish for the promoter of a champion to stage a champion’s mandatory defence.
“Look Mzi, you are the promoter of the champion. The champion is on a mandatory option as you have indicated and as per we know. When dealing with me, kindly pay attention to the regulations that are guiding this phase/option and not use common sense,” Matiti said.
“A mandatory option means that you can’t instruct me and my team, you must negotiate with me till we agree. You can stage the mandatory defence of Batyi against Khuzwayo. And we are taking this fight and we are available for it. We have not agreed on the purse you are imposing on us. We have not and will not agree on the arrival date of my team in East London as you put it a day before the weigh-in.”
Matiti added: “And lastly, you maybe harbouring under the illusion that you are doing me and my team a favour, let me tell you that is not the case. I’ve been noting how you sending your communications and your irresponsible deadlines, which you have no authority in a making, at least not to my team. However, that has not bothered me.
“The email method can prove to be counter productive. I left you my cell number, however, we do need a paper trail. A mandatory option is a tricky business. I can assure you that Khuzwayo will fight against Batyi. Khuzwayo is neither given this right by Batyi nor by you. This right arises as a consequence of the rules and regulations being adhered to.”
In his response, Booi wrote to Ngqumba saying: “Negotiations with Khuzwayo’s camp have collapsed and it is clear with the tone of Ayanda that we cannot resuscitate them. A reasonable offer was given to him and enough time to consult and he ignored our deadline. I’m not contemplating any discussions with them on this matter.”
Meanwhile, Ink Sport has reliably learnt that Booi initially offered a R30 000 purse, which he increased to R35 000 while Matiti “demanded” R50 000. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
