Amateur boxer Amzolele Dyeyi turns pro ahead of 2024 Olympic Qualifiers

Dyeyi, a force in the national team that participated in the inaugural Mandela African Challenge Cup at ICC in Durban, is set to team up with Khangelani Jack in Johannesburg.

"Yes, Dyeyi is here with me," says 2023 BSA trainer of the year award winner, who is the head coach at the McAusland Boxing Gym in Kepler Park, South of Johannesburg.

Dyeyi explained there was no point in staying in the team after it became clear that he would not go to Thailand next month to try and qualify for the Paris Games.

"All the boxers that will go to Thailand have already received forms from SANABO [South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation] and no one said anything to me, so it is clear that they have made up their minds, so why waste my time here," said the 22-year-old.

The talented dexterous fighter lost to Mozambican Sigauque Armando in the final of the continental tournament, which featured 22 countries.

He has now joined the gym which is home to SA and ABU flyweight champion Smangele "Smash" Hadebe, SA lightweight titlist Bonita van Jaarsveld, Gauteng middleweight holder Donjuan "The Iron Dragon" van Heerden and junior lightweight host prospect Bernice "The Badger" Ferreira.

Dyeyi's departure has reduced the number of South Africa's potential participants at the 2024 Paris Olympics to only three – John Masamba, Sanele Sogcwayi, and Lubabalo Lusizo, who have yet to confirm whether they have been invited by SANABO to next month's qualifiers in Thailand.

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