What was positioned to become a vacant South African junior-welterweight title fight between Aphiwe Boyiya and Sipho Mahlangu at East London’s Orient Theatre this coming Sunday has now been downgraded to a non-title bout.
This followed after the handlers of Sibusiso Zingange, who’s rated number two in the division, refused to write a step aside letter to allow Boyiya to face eighth-rated Mahlangu in a title contest. As a result, this has forced Boxing South Africa (BSA) to sanction Boyiya’s fight against Mahlangu as a non-title bout.
“We have the sanctioning letter with Mboyiya being a non-title fight. There was no need for Zingange’s step aside letter as he was not eligible to fight when we submitted the application for the tournament as he was already contracted to fight mid-March,” Kay B Promotions boss Mzi Booi said.
“This is a bad precedent and I hope it won’t come back and bite someone. We have decided not to seek intervention on this matter as it will disturb our peace and tournament preparations.”
Boyiya’s fight against Mahlangu is still the main supporting bout to the SA featherweight title contest between defending champion Zolisa Batyi and Lindelani Sibisi.
Batyi, who won the title when he stopped Jeff Magagane in the second round in December 2022, has already successfully defended his crown four times. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
