Speaking during an interview on Radio 2000‘s Game On show on Wednesday evening, Ayabonga Sonjica responded to comments made by Xaba Promotions’ Ayanda Matiti.
Writing on the Xaba Promotions Facebook page, Matiti said that Sonjica’s wanted too much money for a fight against reigning South African junior-featherweight champion Siyabulela Hem, who’s his homeboy in Duncan Village, East London.
“I don’t want to talk too much about the offer or the money because that’s for my manager. But I’m a former Olympian and former SA champion and if my management says I deserve, then I know I’m worth it,” Sonjica told Thabiso Mosia.
Sonjica added: “Why do you want to make a big fight if you say there’s no money in boxing? Everyone wants to see this fight. People are talking about it. I also want to give people what they want because I’m not a coward.”
With boxing being a short career, Sonjica believes that as boxers they must be paid handsomely as they run the risk of getting hurt while inside the ring.
“Boxing is a short career. We are also doing it for money so that we can get out before getting damaged. So, if promoters from SA don’t value us, then it’s fine. But they must not use us,” Sonjica remarked.
“If you want to make a big fight, you know that the sales will be up and you will be making money as a promoter. But what about the boxers that make the fight? Must they gamble with their lives for peanuts?”
The 34-year-old former SA junior-featherweight champion, who is trained by Sean Smith in Johannesburg, revealed that Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) paid him good purses when he fought under the promotional outfit.
“Remember, I come from Rumble Africa Promotions and they paid me very well. I must give credit to them. So, if RAP was paying me well, why can’t other promoters do the same? This fight is going to be big. It will divide our area because we don’t come far from each other,” he said.
