An interpretation or misinterpretation of Article 13 of Boxing South Africa’s Sanctioning and Championship Policy and Rules has forced Cape Town-based promoter Jackie Brice to decide to take BSA to court.
Brice had hoped to promote the vacant SA welterweight title fight between Wassim Chellan and Jabulani Makhense. Unfortunately for him, the BSA sanctioning committee refused to sanction the fight saying that both boxers don’t qualify despite being rated first and second respectively.
The title is now scheduled to be contested by Keanu Koopman and Bonke Duku, who are rated third and fourth respectively, on Friday, 6 December, something which has incensed Brice, who strongly believes that Chellan and Makhense deserve to fight for the belt by virtue of their lofty ratings.
“I’m taking them head on. I’m going to court. There’s no consistency in the manner in which they apply the rules. I would be happy if they had interpreted the rules correctly whether it was the previous committee or the current one,” Brice threatened.
Article 13 of the Sanctioning and Championship Policy and Rules, which was signed by former BSA board chairperson Dr Malefetsane Ngatane on 19 December 2019 says: “The challengers will be boxers rated in the top ten BSA’s rating list in the same weight division and must meet, but not limited, to the following criteria, the challenger must have either won or drawn his/her last fight. Must not have been inactive for a period of more than twelve (12) months.”
Chellan has not fought since a points loss to German boxer Adel El Garmaoui five months ago while Makhense hasn’t laced his gloves after losing to Russian Vitaly Petryakov in September 2023. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
