BOXING South Africa has commended the Mandela Bay municipality, including promoters S'Phatho Handi and the Nelson Mandela Promoters, on the success of the tournament they staged in Port Elizabeth last Friday.

BOXING South Africa has commended the Mandela Bay municipality, including promoters S'Phatho Handi and the Nelson Mandela Promoters, on the success of the tournament they staged in Port Elizabeth last Friday.

BSA interim CEO Loyiso Mtya said the big crowd from Uitenhage and East London got their money's worth.

"Boxers from the Mandela Bay municipality did not disappoint," Mtya said.

But there was a downside to the fight fest.

"The same cannot be said about the quality of the refereeing," Mtya lamented.

"What makes it worse is that the two officials who made a mockery of the sport have both been in the game for more than 30 years."

The officials are Lizo Jordaan and Terrence Makaluza.

"Jordaan fell over a hurt and groggy boxer, Siyabulela Khuphiso, while doing the right thing in stopping the fight against Siviwe Ntsiko for the Eastern Cape provincial mini flyweight title.

"He could have caused much more damage than the actual opponent," Mtya said.

"The agony was when Makaluza continued counting when Matima Molefe was right behind him after dropping Siyabulela Ziqula.

"Molefe was supposed to be in the neutral corner until he was called by the referee to box again."

Mtya heaped praise on referee Stephen Simon for saving a hurt Marcel Japhta from total destruction in the second round against SA featherweight champion Sabelo Jubatha in the main fight. Simon stopped the fight in the second round.