Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Terry Pettifer says Nkosinathi Joyi has rejoined Golden Gloves Promotion (GGP).

"He is definitely coming back," said Pettifer, who serves GGP as its publicist.

But Joyi, who won the IBO mini flyweight belt under the banner of GGP in 2006, and his manager S'Phatho Handi dismissed Pettifer's statement.

Handi said he had spoken to GGP boss Rodney Berman last week but nothing came out of their talks.

"I was not prepared to discuss anything with him over the phone and he invited me to Johannesburg this week," he said.

"Look, I don't want to be selfish to Joyi, Berman and myself. There are points that must be clarified and I need answers."

Joyi said: "There is nothing like rejoining them. Going back to Berman will not be that easy. He made promises but he did not deliver and instead left me.

"I ended up not fighting for the whole year," said Joyi, who vacated the SA title after his sixth defence against Thobani Mbangeni on September 22 2006.

Joyi teamed up with GGP after that and he terminated his contract with SABC because Berman worked strictly with SuperSport.

But that marriage ended a few months after Joyi won the IBO belt.

This 25-year-old rising star from Eastern Cape, who is yet to taste defeat after 17 wins, 13 by knockout, spent more than a year without a fight.

His first defence against Gabriel Pumar was promoted by Koko Godlo at the Great Centenary Hall in Port Elizabeth in November last year.

It ended within two minutes. Joyi's thunderous right hook to the body sent Pumar to the canvas where he was counted out by Australian referee Phil Austin.

That spectacular knockout has been nominated for Boxing SA's newly introduced award - the knockout of the year.