THE South African junior flyweight title clash which was shrouded in controversy when it was called off just moments before the first round will now take place tonight at Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape.
Then held by Sizwe Sinyabi, the title was a subject of controversy when Sinyabi’s title defence against Monwabisi Gundwana was cancelled on the day of the fight when Sinyabi failed a medical examination.
Questions were raised regarding the permission of Sinyabi to participate in an official weigh-in when he was not medically cleared to fight.
Fight promoter Noforty Tsenene, the only female boxing promoter in the country, threatened to institute a legal action against Boxing South Africa for the financial losses she incurred which included travelling and accommodation expenses for the participants.
However, she dropped the lawsuit after she was given an opportunity to stage today’s vacant title clash between Gundwana and Luzuko Siyo.
The appointment of Siyo to contest for the title raised a few eyebrows as the Duncan Village youngster is rated fourth for the title behind former champions Mfundo Gwayana and Vuyani Kheswa both of who felt they deserved the opportunity.
However neither of them qualify for the title match because of the rule that requires a fighter to have beaten or at least managed a draw against a rated opponent in the last six months, leaving Siyo – who is unbeaten in eight bouts – to get the nod.
The fight is likely to rekindle old rivalry between Eastern Cape cities Port Elizabeth and East London, which used to produce epic battles between their fighters.