BOXING SA executive member Solly Selebi does not understand why Phakamile Jacobs forced Patrick Malinga to cut his goat skin bangle (isiphandla) or face forfeiting his national lightweight title.
That happened two weeks ago, before Malinga defended his title with an eighth-round stoppage of Vusumzi Tyatyeka in Port Elizabeth.
Jacobs, from Eastern Cape, was in charge of that fight in Port Elizabeth.
"I am hearing this from you for the first time," said Selebi, who was acting on behalf of chairperson Peter Ngatane while he was at the WBC's 48th annual convention in Mexico.
"I am shocked. I honestly do not understand why Malinga was forced to cut the isiphandla because it does not even interfere with anything in boxing."
Jacobs told this writer last week that rules stipulated that earrings, chains and rings are not allowed during a boxing match. Malinga's trainer and father Jabulani Malinga demanded to see the ruling regarding traditions, and it seemed Jacobs was found wanting.
Selebi trained and managed a horde of top fighters and some wore isiphandla.
"It gets covered by bandages before you can put on gloves. That is why I don't understand the fuss," said Selebi, a practising Muslim. "We must begin to be sensitive to people's traditions. Anyway, we will l wait for the report from Phakamile and take it from there."
Jabulani is still furious.
"Boxing SA needs open- minded administrators, not individuals like Phakamile Jacobs who has no respect for people's cultures, unless what he did was a master plan to destabilise us.
"If it was not for the lady promoter, Gladys Tsenene, who had already spent her money to put up that tournament, I would have told my son to vacate their title. That is how proud we are and respectful to our traditions," Jabulani said.
Patrick revealed that Boxing SA's acting chief Loyiso Mtya tried the same trick before the fighter stopped Tyatyeka in the first round of their first fight in September last year.
"Loyiso reprimanded me for sharing this with you (Sowetan)," said Patrick, who has lost fights with isiphandla around his wrist.
Isiphandla storm gets Selebi's goat
BOXING SA executive member Solly Selebi does not understand why Phakamile Jacobs forced Patrick Malinga to cut his goat skin bangle (isiphandla) or face forfeiting his national lightweight title.
That happened two weeks ago, before Malinga defended his title with an eighth-round stoppage of Vusumzi Tyatyeka in Port Elizabeth.
Jacobs, from Eastern Cape, was in charge of that fight in Port Elizabeth.
"I am hearing this from you for the first time," said Selebi, who was acting on behalf of chairperson Peter Ngatane while he was at the WBC's 48th annual convention in Mexico.
"I am shocked. I honestly do not understand why Malinga was forced to cut the isiphandla because it does not even interfere with anything in boxing."
Jacobs told this writer last week that rules stipulated that earrings, chains and rings are not allowed during a boxing match. Malinga's trainer and father Jabulani Malinga demanded to see the ruling regarding traditions, and it seemed Jacobs was found wanting.
Selebi trained and managed a horde of top fighters and some wore isiphandla.
"It gets covered by bandages before you can put on gloves. That is why I don't understand the fuss," said Selebi, a practising Muslim. "We must begin to be sensitive to people's traditions. Anyway, we will l wait for the report from Phakamile and take it from there."
Jabulani is still furious.
"Boxing SA needs open- minded administrators, not individuals like Phakamile Jacobs who has no respect for people's cultures, unless what he did was a master plan to destabilise us.
"If it was not for the lady promoter, Gladys Tsenene, who had already spent her money to put up that tournament, I would have told my son to vacate their title. That is how proud we are and respectful to our traditions," Jabulani said.
Patrick revealed that Boxing SA's acting chief Loyiso Mtya tried the same trick before the fighter stopped Tyatyeka in the first round of their first fight in September last year.
"Loyiso reprimanded me for sharing this with you (Sowetan)," said Patrick, who has lost fights with isiphandla around his wrist.
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