East London will host the next live boxing action on SABC on July 24.
Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula made this announcement at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, at the weekend.
Addressing the huge crowd that came to witness the historic return of live boxing on television and radio after a five-year blackout, Mbalula enthused: "Our next tournament will take place in East London, the mecca of boxing in South Africa."
The five-year blackout was due to promoter Branco Milenkovic taking Boxing South Africa to court over who owns the broadcasting rights for boxing. The upcoming tournament will be honour of late former president Nelson Mandela, who trained as a fighter..
The box-and-dine event will be staged by promoter Ayanda Matiti.
"We, as Xaba Promotions and Events, have come to an agreement with the Mandela Foundation to stage the second tournament in his honour," said Matiti yesterday.
"But we have gone beyond boxing and adopted Sinethemba High School in Mdantsane where we will dedicate our 67 minutes painting and doing other other work."
The Nelson Mandela International Day is on July 18.
"But that does not mean that people cannot do good after the actual day," Matiti said.
"It is our attempt to use boxing as a tool to resolve social ills. We are focusing on education which is a fundamental pillar."
The weigh-in for the tournament will take place at the same school on July 23.
The bill will be headlined by the IBO super flyweight championship between holder Lwandile Sityatha and former holder Gideon "Hard Core" Buthelezi. Ali "Rush Hour" Funeka will also defend his IBO welterweight belt against Tsiko "Cruel Junior" Mulovhedzi.
Professional boxing back in Eastern Cape and SABC
East London will host the next live boxing action on SABC on July 24.
Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula made this announcement at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, at the weekend.
Addressing the huge crowd that came to witness the historic return of live boxing on television and radio after a five-year blackout, Mbalula enthused: "Our next tournament will take place in East London, the mecca of boxing in South Africa."
The five-year blackout was due to promoter Branco Milenkovic taking Boxing South Africa to court over who owns the broadcasting rights for boxing. The upcoming tournament will be honour of late former president Nelson Mandela, who trained as a fighter..
The box-and-dine event will be staged by promoter Ayanda Matiti.
"We, as Xaba Promotions and Events, have come to an agreement with the Mandela Foundation to stage the second tournament in his honour," said Matiti yesterday.
"But we have gone beyond boxing and adopted Sinethemba High School in Mdantsane where we will dedicate our 67 minutes painting and doing other other work."
The Nelson Mandela International Day is on July 18.
"But that does not mean that people cannot do good after the actual day," Matiti said.
"It is our attempt to use boxing as a tool to resolve social ills. We are focusing on education which is a fundamental pillar."
The weigh-in for the tournament will take place at the same school on July 23.
The bill will be headlined by the IBO super flyweight championship between holder Lwandile Sityatha and former holder Gideon "Hard Core" Buthelezi. Ali "Rush Hour" Funeka will also defend his IBO welterweight belt against Tsiko "Cruel Junior" Mulovhedzi.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos