After seeing that Snamiso Ntuli didn’t get a cent in Namibia last week, Johannesburg-based boxing trainer and manager Colin ‘Nomakanjani’ Nathan has decided to fight for the Ladysmith-born boxer to get his purse.
Ntuli returned home a sad man after his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa super-middleweight title fight against the champion Paulinus Ndjolonimus from Namibia got cancelled on the day of the weigh-in.
Fight promoter Nestor Tobias of Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy said that Ndjolonimus pulled out of the Ntuli bout after a doctor advised him against fighting as he had a bout of flu.
“I spoke to the commission in Namibia and asked them to put pressure on Nestor to pay the boxer 50 percent of the agreed purse as compensation. The best case scenario would be for the boxer to be paid the full purse,” Nathan said.
According to Nathan, Ntuli was not given any proof by way of a medical certificate in as far as proving that Ndjolonimus really had flu.
“He has a strong argument and we also have proof that he weighed in the presence of the commissioners. The kid deserves to be compensated,” Nathan said.
In a letter to Patrick Esterhuizen, a Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board commissioner, Nathan said: “I have been asked by the camp of Snamiso Ntuli to help them get relief with regards to “no show” by Namibia’s WBO super-middleweight champion Paulinus Ndjolonimus, who claimed to have caught a “virus” and was ruled out to fight against Mr Ntuli.”
In the letter to Esterhuizen, Nathan quoted subsection 11 of the Boxing and Wrestling Control Act 11 of 1980. Strangely, Namibia still uses an outdated Boxing and Wrestling Control Act 11 of 1980, which was used when the country was still called South West Africa under South Africa’s control.
Subsection 11 (1) says: “A boxer shall on the day of the tournament subject himself to a test for physical and mental fitness and to a medical examination by a medical practitioner registered as such under the Medical, Dental and Supplementary Health Service Professions Act, 1974, and appointed by the board for the purpose and shall not be allowed to participate in the tournament unless he subjects himself to such test and examination and the board is satisfied, after a certificate by the said medical practitioner on form J has been considered, that he is physically and mentally fit to box.
“The Medical, Dental and Supplementary Health Service Professions Act 56 of 1974 (RSA) has been replaced in succession by the Medical and Dental Professions Act 21 of 1993, the Medical and Dental Act 10 of 2004 and the Health Professions Act 16 of 2024.”
Nathan added: “I am aware that the above was not presented to Team Ntuli and in accordance with the law, the Namibian Boxing Control Board was supposed to be furnished with the above. Team Ntuli is not aware that the above procedure was indeed followed. If it was, we kindly ask the board for the documentation for us to see.
“It is important to note that the Namibian Boxing Board of Control along with the WBO representative officially called, weighed and acknowledged Mr Ntuli weighing in. Mr Ntuli made weight for the super-middleweight title, weighing 75,55kg.
“Given the fact that Team Ntuli in good faith, trained and got himself into the best shape possible for this 12 round championship, only to be let down at the last minute in a very dubious manner, is requesting compensation of his full purse that he signed for.”
Nathan also said in his letter that Tobias’ promotional outfit must undertake in writing, to present another fight agreement or contract for Ntuli to fight for the WBO Africa super-middleweight title against Ndjolonimus, with the board’s acknowledgement and acceptance. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
