DINGAAN Thobela is unimpressed by news that his boxing licence has been revoked by Boxing South Africa.
Thobela said yesterday that as far as he was concerned he was licensed to fight Basil Ray in a heavyweight class at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, on August 29.
"I am a licensed fighter and right now I'm preparing to fight Basil Ray," he said.
"As far as I'm concerned the fight is on because nobody has said anything to me. I have also learnt that Ray is also hard at training preparing for the fight.
Ray's camp was quoted by sister paper Sunday World yesterday as saying they will grant Thobela his wish of dying in the ring, meaning they were ready to beat him on August 29.
But the keenly-anticipated showdown will not take place. It was to be staged by promoter Jeff Ellis.
Chairperson of BSA's sanctioning committee Solly Selebi said Thobela's licence had been revoked.
"We checked Rule 3 of the rules and it says if a boxer is over 35 years old he should have fought within 12 months but if a boxer has not fought beyond that time, then he cannot be relicensed," Selebi said.
"Dingaan has not fought since losing to Soon Botes in 2006 so we revoked his licence," said Selebi who added that Thobela had followed procedure.
"Our office erred by giving Dingaan his licence. The CEO (Moffat Qithi) is investigating."
Boxing SA's management committee member Andile Sdinile said:
"The rule stipulates that any boxer who wants to apply for a boxer's licence must be over 18 years old but below 35 and Dingaan is 45".
Sdinile is a friend but is understood to be against his return to the ring.
"I will fight for the quality of our product because it is the only secure sponsorship and television coverage," he said.
BSA's chairperson Peter Ngatane told Sowetan before Thobela's applied for the license that they would relicense him if he produces all the required medical certificates but he refused to comment on these developments.
'My fight is on' says defiant Dingaan Thobela
DINGAAN Thobela is unimpressed by news that his boxing licence has been revoked by Boxing South Africa.
Thobela said yesterday that as far as he was concerned he was licensed to fight Basil Ray in a heavyweight class at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, on August 29.
"I am a licensed fighter and right now I'm preparing to fight Basil Ray," he said.
"As far as I'm concerned the fight is on because nobody has said anything to me. I have also learnt that Ray is also hard at training preparing for the fight.
Ray's camp was quoted by sister paper Sunday World yesterday as saying they will grant Thobela his wish of dying in the ring, meaning they were ready to beat him on August 29.
But the keenly-anticipated showdown will not take place. It was to be staged by promoter Jeff Ellis.
Chairperson of BSA's sanctioning committee Solly Selebi said Thobela's licence had been revoked.
"We checked Rule 3 of the rules and it says if a boxer is over 35 years old he should have fought within 12 months but if a boxer has not fought beyond that time, then he cannot be relicensed," Selebi said.
"Dingaan has not fought since losing to Soon Botes in 2006 so we revoked his licence," said Selebi who added that Thobela had followed procedure.
"Our office erred by giving Dingaan his licence. The CEO (Moffat Qithi) is investigating."
Boxing SA's management committee member Andile Sdinile said:
"The rule stipulates that any boxer who wants to apply for a boxer's licence must be over 18 years old but below 35 and Dingaan is 45".
Sdinile is a friend but is understood to be against his return to the ring.
"I will fight for the quality of our product because it is the only secure sponsorship and television coverage," he said.
BSA's chairperson Peter Ngatane told Sowetan before Thobela's applied for the license that they would relicense him if he produces all the required medical certificates but he refused to comment on these developments.
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