Boxing SA promises to overcome legal impasse and turn around the sport

Speaking at the arrival of Africa’s only credible world champion Sivenathi “Special One” Nontshinga at the OR Tambo International Airport yesterday, from Mexico where he reclaimed his IBF junior-flyweight title this past weekend, Ntlanganiso says they continue to work in the background.

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He says with the support of Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Zizi Kodwa, they are not resting on their laurels.

''In this year colleagues, as Boxing South Africa - we are saying, this is the year of the boxing glove.'' 

"We want boxing to go back to where it belongs, we were once a number two spot in this country and in 2024 we will return to that position. With the support of the Minister - boxing South Africa will turn the corner,'' said Ntlanganiso.

BSA is currently leaderless after the new board that was appointed by Kodwa in November last year was interdicted in court by the National Professional Boxing Promoters' Association (NPBPA), as they challenged the procedures the Minister followed in appointing that board.

As the matter continues to play itself out in court, there have been reports that Kodwa is contemplating appointing an interim board or administrator, to ensure that the organization continues to operate and meet its obligations.

Ntlanganiso says they will not be derailed by the legal impasse.

''We are working on the back round, there will be time for us to explain what we are doing.’’ 

‘’We are not sitting and waiting for this legal impasse that is delaying the process of boxing. As Boxing South Africa we want to see boxing moving forward,'' added Ntlanganiso.

But there’s always been a concern that the government is not doing enough to support boxing in the country, and this was also raised yesterday by Nontshinga’s father Themba Gopheni himself, who also happens to be a boxing trainer.

''Boxing is not supported in South Africa, starting from the President going down to the Ministers, we only see it when we bring the world titles - but after that, nobody talks about boxing,'' said Gopheni.

Boxing continues to be the only sporting code in the country that is governed through a Parliamentary Act and BSA’s funding falls under the Ministry of Sport.

The sport also struggles to access sponsors, with most of the funding directly going to promoters from private companies and provincial governments which in turn they use to stage tournaments.

It is through those tournaments that other licensees in boxing, like the boxers, trainers, and boxers get paid, meaning they are at the mercy of the promoters. Gopheni says the government continues to prioritize other sporting codes like football and rugby over the dying sport of boxing.