The Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) tournament scheduled for Sunday, 25 April, in Gqeberha in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro has been moved to a day earlier.
This tournament will see unbeaten Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga taking on Filipino boxer Christian ‘The Bomb’ Araneta in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight elimination bout at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino. The winner is going to challenge reigning IBF junior-flyweight champion Felix Alvarado from Nicaragua.
“This is a slight change as we thought it will be great to stage the tournament on the evening of Saturday, 24 April,” RAP chief executive officer Nomfesane Nyatela confirmed.
Nyatela also added that the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro do not scare them even though they are concerned. She hopes that the numbers would have gone down by the time of the tournament.
“Yes, the rising numbers are a concern, but we are positive that they will go down again. We would like to urge boxer managers to take very good care of their boxers building up to the tournament and make sure that they don’t get infected,” Nyatela said.
The RAP boss revealed once more that they have had discussions with Boardwalk Hotel and Casino management about getting a separate wing where they are going to house boxers and ring officials before the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro has welcomed RAP’s decision to stage the tournament in Gqeberha. This is going to be the first high profile boxing tournament in Gqeberha in years.
“The Rumble Africa bout is an independent event with no financial assistance from NMBM. However, such events are welcomed by the city as they assist us to profile the city and promote boxing as a sport,” NMBM communications and media management officer Mamela Ndamase said.
“The intention for NMBM is to form strategic partnerships particularly with sporting organisations of interest such as boxing. NMBM has a rich history in boxing. On this basis, we hope that there will be more high profile fights that will be hosted in our shores.”
