Even though Khangelani Jack prefers not to talk about it, we can reveal that he has chosen his friendship with Zolisa Batyi over lining his pockets with money as he declined an offer to help Lindelani Sibisi ahead of his fight against the reigning South African featherweight champion.
Sibisi’s handlers approached the 2023 Trainer of the Year award winner with an offer as they wanted him to be part of their boxer’s team in their bid to dethrone Batyi. However, Jack disappointed them when turned down their offer as he didn’t want to ‘betray’ Batyi whom he once trained.
“We approached Jack to help us prepare for the Batyi fight. However, he has not agreed yet. We’ve got a good relationship with their camp thus we asked him to help Sibisi ahead of the fight against Batyi,” Hlulukwenza Dladla from Hlula Dladla Boxing Promotions (HDBP) revealed.
Batyi’s fight against Sibisi is scheduled to be held on Sunday, 27 April in East London. And this is going to be the fifth time Batyi defends his title.
Jack was in Batyi’s corner when he stopped former champion Jeff Magagane in the second round to win the SA title at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Sports Complex in Seshego, Polokwane, in December 2022.
It was also Jack, who led Batyi to his first and second successful title defences. He drew with Abul-aziz Kunert in Bellville, Cape Town, in August 2023 and defeated Lucky Hobyane in March last year.
“Yes, it’s true that the Sibisi camp approached Jack, but he refused to work with them because that would have been more like he was betraying Batyi whom he has known for some time,” an Ink Sport source said.
Contacted for comment, Jack said that he knew nothing about being approached to help Sibisi prepare for his duel against Batyi. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
