BOXING SA could find itself bobbing and weaving in court if Dingaan Thobela forces the body to explain the criteria it used to re-licence and sanction the South African heavyweight title between Anton Nel and Hein van Bosch at the weekend.
A livid Thobela is seeking legal advice after watching the fight between Nel, 45, and Bosch, 43, with keen interest. Thobela said when Boxing SA revoked his boxer's licence two weeks after renewing it in 2011, they quoted Rule 3.
''They said [Rule 3] stipulated that a boxer who is over 35 years of age must have fought within 12 months [of the application] in order to be relicensed, otherwise the licence will not be renewed," said Thobela, who was 44 years old and had not fought since 2006 when he renewed his licence.
Nel - who stopped Van Bosch over eight rounds - had last fought on April 29 2011, when he was stopped in five rounds by Wiseman Dlomo for the same title. Van Bosch had last seen competitive action in July last year when he stopped Basil Ray in Boksburg.
Thobela - the former WBC super middleweight champion - had already signed a contract with promoter Jeff Ellis to meet Basil Ray in the heavyweight class.
Their bout was to feature in African Ring's box-and-dine tournament at Emperors Palace on August 29 2011.
''Was I treated so shabbily and humiliated simply because I'm a black man, or do rules and regulations apply only to certain individuals. I did all the medicals in order to be relicensed, but the impression given by Boxing SA is that I forged documents. My reputation was tainted," said the former WBO and WBA lightweight titlist who retired from boxing after that saga. ''My constitutional right was tampered with and I was also denied a living. Anyway, I will be consulting with professional advisers. I had big plans after fighting Basil Ray. I know that some people will say I'm blowing hot air when I reveal now that there was a strong possibility of me fighting Bernard Hopkins.
''I could have been the first local fighter to have won the WBC light-heavyweight division at 45. But that never happened all because of Boxing SA's double standards."
Boxing SA's acting CEO Loyiso Mtya said yesterday that Thobela was taken as a new licensee because he was already over 35 and had not fought for more than three years.
''In that situation the regulations disqualify him. Beside that, there were also medical issues. Nel and Bosch have been within the system and the regulations say nothing stops us from renewing their licence for as long as they passed all their medical tests. They can box until they are 50 years old," said Mtya.
''One of our responsibilities is to guard the health of boxers, especially when it comes to their age. As a condition for the fight last week, we sent Nel and Hein van Bosch for medicals and they passed everything."
Dr Steven Saad, who examined Thobela before the renewal of his licence, said: ''I did the basic tests that I do to all fighters and Dingaan passed it. I signed the form [stating] that he can fight."
Thobela unhappy with BSA
BOXING SA could find itself bobbing and weaving in court if Dingaan Thobela forces the body to explain the criteria it used to re-licence and sanction the South African heavyweight title between Anton Nel and Hein van Bosch at the weekend.
A livid Thobela is seeking legal advice after watching the fight between Nel, 45, and Bosch, 43, with keen interest. Thobela said when Boxing SA revoked his boxer's licence two weeks after renewing it in 2011, they quoted Rule 3.
''They said [Rule 3] stipulated that a boxer who is over 35 years of age must have fought within 12 months [of the application] in order to be relicensed, otherwise the licence will not be renewed," said Thobela, who was 44 years old and had not fought since 2006 when he renewed his licence.
Nel - who stopped Van Bosch over eight rounds - had last fought on April 29 2011, when he was stopped in five rounds by Wiseman Dlomo for the same title. Van Bosch had last seen competitive action in July last year when he stopped Basil Ray in Boksburg.
Thobela - the former WBC super middleweight champion - had already signed a contract with promoter Jeff Ellis to meet Basil Ray in the heavyweight class.
Their bout was to feature in African Ring's box-and-dine tournament at Emperors Palace on August 29 2011.
''Was I treated so shabbily and humiliated simply because I'm a black man, or do rules and regulations apply only to certain individuals. I did all the medicals in order to be relicensed, but the impression given by Boxing SA is that I forged documents. My reputation was tainted," said the former WBO and WBA lightweight titlist who retired from boxing after that saga. ''My constitutional right was tampered with and I was also denied a living. Anyway, I will be consulting with professional advisers. I had big plans after fighting Basil Ray. I know that some people will say I'm blowing hot air when I reveal now that there was a strong possibility of me fighting Bernard Hopkins.
''I could have been the first local fighter to have won the WBC light-heavyweight division at 45. But that never happened all because of Boxing SA's double standards."
Boxing SA's acting CEO Loyiso Mtya said yesterday that Thobela was taken as a new licensee because he was already over 35 and had not fought for more than three years.
''In that situation the regulations disqualify him. Beside that, there were also medical issues. Nel and Bosch have been within the system and the regulations say nothing stops us from renewing their licence for as long as they passed all their medical tests. They can box until they are 50 years old," said Mtya.
''One of our responsibilities is to guard the health of boxers, especially when it comes to their age. As a condition for the fight last week, we sent Nel and Hein van Bosch for medicals and they passed everything."
Dr Steven Saad, who examined Thobela before the renewal of his licence, said: ''I did the basic tests that I do to all fighters and Dingaan passed it. I signed the form [stating] that he can fight."
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