Promoter Rodney Berman has challenged successful business people around Pretoria, including the wealthy Patrice Motsepe, to donate to the Mamelodi Project - an ambitious plan to develop a gym that will be used by both amateur and professional fighters in the area.

"Perhaps someone of Sundowns fame could play the ball with us," said the attorney.

Motsepe has already donated R1-million towards the development of boxing in the Eastern Cape. The mining magnate and his wife Precious have also given boxer Zolani Tete's mother, Nomonde, R110000 to help her procure a prosthetic leg.

Berman has already pledged R10000 to the gym project. He said the move was inspired by the discovery that professional boxer Thabo Moabi - who was defeated by Dee Jay Kriel at Emperors Palace three weeks ago - comes from the area where there is not a single boxing gym.

"I was told that Moabi trains in an open field," said Berman about the boxer who was rescued from severe punishment against Kriel by referee Pumeza Zinakile. Berman added R2000 to the beaten boxer's purse money.

Berman, together with the Peermont Group, assisted with the refurbishment of a boxing gym in Makapanstad - a small rural area in the Dikebu area of North West a few years back.

l Elsewhere, IBO president Ed Levine has confirmed that Mxolisi Nombewu is no longer the IBO international bantamweight champion. Nombewu last fought on March 22 when he was knocked out in the second round by Mfusi Maxhayi in a bout reduced to a non-title fight after Maxhayi had failed to make the weight. Trainer Themba Zulu was under the impression that his charge, Nombewu, was still the champion, but BoxRec.Com has listed Maxhayi as the IBO International and WBF Intercontinental bantamweight holder. Levine said: "Our championship rules state that the loss of any non title fight shall subject the title to be declared vacant at the sole discretion of the IBO. Our championship rules also state that all regional titles shall be defended at least once every six months."