By Monwabisi Jimlongo
A number of nominees in different categories won’t be available to attend the South African Boxing Awards function scheduled for the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban this coming Friday.
Some of the nominees are going to skip the awards ceremony because of fight commitments in East London on the weekend.
Topping the list of nominees who will miss the shindig is reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight champion Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga.
The 24-year-old Nontshinga is one of the three nominees in the Male Boxer of the Year category where he competes for the award with current South African middleweight champion John Bopape and Phumelela Cafu.
Nontshinga will miss the awards function because he will be in camp as he’s defending his IBF crown against Filipino boxer Regie Suganob at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) on Sunday, 2 July.
Nhlanhla ‘Mount Kilimanjaro’ Tyirha will also skip the event because of his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) junior-flyweight title fight against Pinoy boxer Lito ‘Naruto’ Dante in the undercard of Nontshinga’s bout.
The former South African junior-flyweight champion’s duel with Esneth Domingo from the Philippines has been nominated in the Male Fight of the Year category.
Tyirha’s handler Khangelani Jack, who is competing with Vusi Mtolo, Bheki Mngomezulu and Sizwe Mthembu in the Trainer of the Year category, is yet to decide whether he’s going to Durban or not as he doesn’t want to be far from his boxer on the eve of one of his very important fights.
“I’m yet to decide whether I will go to Durban or not. Remember that Tyirha is fighting on Sunday and I want to make sure that he’s ready for the fight,” Jack said.
Meanwhile, Lonkie Witbooi revealed that his boxers Sharadene Fortuin and Sinethemba Blom are also not going to Durban.
Fortuin, whose bout against Ellen Simwaka is vying for the Female Fight of the Year award, is set to defend her SA female bantamweight title against Melissa Miller and Blom faces Romeo Makwakwa from Malawi next Sunday. Blom’s fight against Kaine Fourie has been nominated in the Male Fight of the Year category.
All the categories and nominees:
Male Boxer Of The Year:
Sivenathi Nontshinga
John Bopape
Phumelela Cafu
Female Boxer of the Year:
Bukiwe Nonina
Hedda Wolmarans
Simangele Hadebe
Male Prospect of Year:
Donjuan van Heerden
Cayden Truter
Keanu Koopman
Female Prospect of the Year:
Nomusa Ngema
Thobela Nyanda
Simamkele Tutsheni
Monalisa Takane
Asanda Simelani
Male Fight of the Year:
Sinethemba Blom v Kaine Fourie
Brandon Thysse v Roarke Knapp
Nhlanhla Tyirha v Esneth Domingo
Phumelela Cafu v Jackson Chauke
Female Fight of the Year:
Asanda Simelani v Thapelo Bokwe
Hedda Wolmarans v Ruth Chisale
Sharadene Fortuin v Ellen Simwaka
Simangele Hadebe v Stumai Muki
Thema Zuma v Bathabile Ziqubu
Knockout of the Year:
Xolisani Ndongeni v Apinun Khongsong
Phumelela Cafu v Tinashe Majoni
Bongani Mahlangu v Ayabonga Sonjica
Landile Ngxeke v Athenkosi Dumezweni
Ring Announcer Of the Year:
Vusiwe Ngcobo
Shepherd Dyani
Sipho Mashego
Carol Tshabalala
Trainer Of the Year:
Vusi Mtolo
Bheki Mngomezulu
Khangelani Jack
Sizwe Mthembu
Ring Official of the Year:
Pumeza Zinakile
Vuyokazi Ncata
Riaan Janse van Rensburg
Matchmaker of the Year:
Luyanda Kana
Ephraim Simba
Abbeys Mnisi
Lwandile Ntsito
Manager of the Year:
Colleen McAusland
Colin Nathan
Charrit Mukondeleli
Damien Durandt
Promoter of the Year:
TLB Boxing Promotions
Jackie Brice Boxing Promotions
ESPN Africa Promotions
Xaba Promotions
Starline Boxing Promotions
Reporter of the Year:
Hayden Jones
Monwabisi Jimlongo
Thabiso Mosia
Zakhele Xaba
