Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

South Africa has so much talent that most IBO champions will in future come from this country, Edward Levine said during his recent visit here.

Levine is the president of this Miami, Florida-based sanctioning body.

The native New Yorker, a former ringside judge and official with the WBO and WBU, was reacting to the non-stop action between Hekkie Budler and Charrit Mukondeleli at Emperors Palace.

Budler outpointed Mukondeleli for the IBO All African flyweight belt.

"We will help South African fighters the best way we can to afford them chances of becoming world champions, make money and change their economic circumstances," said Levine, whose organisation is not given the credit it deserves here for putting this country's fighters in the limelight.

This includes Cassius Baloyi, the six-time world champion.

It is referred to as one of those lesser recognised sanctioning bodies.

"Our rapid rise in recognition has been based upon what we believe should be the real criteria for a sanctioning bodies' credibility - honest ratings, operating with integrity, truthfulness, and, ultimately, the quality of our champions," Levine responded.

Zolani Marali, Zolile Mbityi and Nkosinathi Joyi are the only IBO champions currently from South Africa.