It's heartbreak for Grahamstown boxing fans, as the SA welterweight title fight scheduled for this weekend has been called off.
It's heartbreak for Grahamstown boxing fans, as the SA welterweight title fight scheduled for this weekend has been called off.
Local boxing star Mzoxolo Ndwayana was set to try wrest the welterweight title from imcumbent Tsiko Mulovhedzi.
But Makana Municipality and the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) could not reach agreement about funds to stage the tournament in Grahamstown.
The fight promoter is hard at work raising funds for the fight to go ahead, but it is unclear where it will be staged.
Promoter Welcome Ncitha sounded troubled at the failed attempts to raise funds for the bout.
He said it would have been a historic moment for Grahamstown boxing to have a local boxer challenging for the SA title in his own back yard.
“This is about the boxer and what we want to achieve with Makana boxing," Ncitha said.
“We can’t, however, rule out completely the possibility of staging the fight in this town, as this is a great opportunity for the people of Grahamstown.
"The fight will definitely happen and Ndwayana will get his crack at the championship, but we will explore our options in terms of the staging of the bout,” said Ncitha.
Ndwayana is in line to become the first SA title holder from Grahamstown.
An agreement could propel him to stardom.
