By Monwabisi Jimlongo
While waiting for the impasse between the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association (NPBPA) and Minister of Sport, Zizi Kodwa, to be solved, Mvelo Boxing Promotions boss Nomvelo Magcaba-Shezi has decided to postpone her tournament by three weeks.
The NPBPA succeeded in interdicting the installation of the new Boxing South Africa (BSA) board of Sifiso Shongwe, Luxolo September, Sakhiwe Sodo, Romy Titus, Princess Mangoma, Nande Mheshe and Dr Mary-Gene Manthata-Setati in December last year.
And now Magcaba-Shezi has postponed her tournament to the 22nd of next month with its main bout being a World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver cruiserweight title fight between Thabiso Mchunu and Argentine boxer Yamil Alberto Peralta Jara.
“We have postponed the tournament to the 22nd of March. We hope that everything would have been in order by that time,” Magcaba-Shezi, an Aspiring Promoter of the Year award winner, said.
The 35-year-old Mchunu has not fought since he was defeated by erstwhile WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu Junior from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) more than two years ago.
Meanwhile, two-time South African welterweight champion Thulani ‘Evolution’ Mbenge will, according to Magcaba-Shezi, fight against Leandro Ariel Fonseca from Argentina in a 10 rounds international bout.
The 32-year-old Mbenge from Mdantsane is yet to fight since he lost to Senegal-born Frenchman Souleymane Cissoko in a WBC Silver welterweight title fight in Nantes, France, in December 2022.
