Siseko Makeleni’s antics have come back to haunt him as Boxing South Africa (BSA) finally acted and stripped him of the Eastern Cape lightweight title on Wednesday afternoon.
BSA’s action followed after Lonwabo Witbooi, who trains Hlumelo Gingxana, had written to the fistic regulator asking for it to do something about Makeleni’s waywardness.
Makeleni had, on two occasions, failed to defend against Gingxana despite agreeing to face the Braelyn-born boxer. Makeleni didn’t honour his defence to Gingxana in March last year citing ill-health.
Even though he signed a fight contract, Makeleni turned around and he told Pepzin Promotions boss Siyabulela Libazi that he won’t be ready for Saturday, 7 February.
“Notice is hereby given that the Boxing South Africa (BSA) sanctioning committee has taken a formal decision to withdraw the recognition of Siseko Makeleni as the Eastern Cape lightweight champion, effective immediately,” a BSA statement said on Wednesday.
After fooling around, Makeleni was unlucky this time as BSA saw through him and took the long-awaited decision to strip him. According to the BSA statement, the regulator will communicate as to who will fight for the vacant provincial lightweight title.
