Moyo boxing ban shocks EFC supremo

EXTREME Fighting Championship Africa president Cairo Howarth says he is surprised by the action of suspended Boxing South Africa acting chief Loyiso Mtya.

This after Mtya announced that WBF African heavyweight boxer Elvis Moyo would no longer be allowed to box in the country.

Sowetan reported last week that Mtya took the decision after learning that Moyo had participated in his third mixed martial arts (MMA) fight that was organised by EFC Africa in Cape Town.

Mtya made it clear that professional boxers are not allowed to be involved in MMA because of a perceived absence of the strict safety regulations that govern boxing.

"Their gloves are too small. They use elbows, they kick and when a guy is down they do not stop for a count," explained Mtya. Instead a guy is hit when he is down.

"They are allowed to go into the next fight while they are injured from their previous fight because there is no punishment index [a report compiled by a doctor at ringside that measures the amount of punishment boxers receive inside the ring]."

But Howarth has disputed the above.

"The EFC organisation is aligned with leading combat sports medical practise around the world, and EFC officials are trained and certified to international standards. Competitors are comprehensively examined by fully qualified doctors," Howarth said.

"They undergo a HIV test and hepatitis test, an MRI and MRA brain scan, submit a full medical history, and undergo a pre-fight medical check before they are allowed to compete. EFC also tests for performance enhancers and other banned substances." He added: "Elvis has fought for us on three occasions and has proven himself to be a highly professional athlete, and a fan favourite with his incredible boxing skills. We contracted him with the understanding that he would continue his boxing career when he was done competing at EFC."