Empangeni boxer’s fight cancelled
Boxing South Africa indicated the 'full purse money' had not been paid over
THE boxing showdown between up-and-coming Empangeni-based boxer Ntsako ‘Isitimela’ Miyambo and Khumbulani Duma from Newcastle, has been called off owing to insufficient funding.
Boxing fans will have to wait to witness the bout which was set to take place tomorrow (Saturday) at the Lamontville Community Hall in Durban, following a statement released by Boxing South Africa (BSA).
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The statement indicated that ‘the full purse money’ had not been transferred and, as such, BSA had to cancel the tournament.
Miyambo and his coach, Ntobeko Ndlela from Zululand Top Team, are devastated by the development.
‘I was disappointed when I heard the news because I have been training for the fight for weeks,’ said Miyambo.
‘I wake up and jog at 4am, and then train until 7pm. I also had to adopt an expensive diet, which was difficult because the right meals for an athlete can be costly, and there is no other option.’
Ndlela said the news of the cancellation reached him via a WhatsApp voice note, and he agonised over having to tell Miyambo.
‘I couldn’t bear to look him in the eye and tell him the match had been cancelled,’ he said.
‘When I finally told him, tears fell because we had worked so hard for so long, for this fight’.
Ndlela said he hoped promoters would be better educated in hosting tournaments.
He also urged the Department of Sport, and BSA to check relevant credentials.
For now, Zululand Top Team is looking forward to another tournament which is being organised for March.
