After training boxers for a couple of years, former professional boxer Mandilakhe Sontlaba has now ventured into the dog-eat-dog business of boxing promotion.
And in a bid to make a statement as a promoter, Sontlaba has already lined up a tournament, which is going to be held at Hemingways in East London on Tuesday, 16 December.
Headlining the tournament is an eight rounds featherweight bout between former South African champion Zolisa Batyi and Awonke Tini. One time SA bantamweight title contender Lusizo Manzana will face Aphiwe Rasmeni in the main supporting bout.
Batyi from Nxarhuni will be fighting for the first time since he lost his national featherweight title to Lindelani Sibisi via a 10th round stoppage at East London’s Orient Theatre in May this year.
Sontlaba, who trades under the Lakhe Boxing Promotions banner, said: “I have a Lakhe Boxing Development at amateur level. I then decided that it was time to develop boxers at professional level thus we are going to have our first tournament on the 16th of December.
“As a former boxer, I know how not being able to get fights feels like. Another thing is that the money was not good when I was still a boxer. I would like to try and give boxers better purses.”
Apart from being a promoter, Sontlaba, who once worked with boxing trainer Lonwabo Witbooi as a conditioning coach, has a gym where he trains people in East London.
“I run a small gym in Selborne and I have 10 clients whom I work with. Sometimes, I train boxers from the University of Fort Hare,” Sontlaba said. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
