By Ron Jackson
The acting CEO of Boxing SA Loyiso Mtya has released the list of nominees for the major awards for South Africa’s annual boxing awards which will be made on February 19 at the International Convention Centre in Durban. It has been reported that the awards will be sponsored by the KwaZulu Natal government.
Even though the awards are for 2010 Boxing SA has included performances in January 2011.
The nominees are:
BOXER OF THE YEAR
Nkosinathi Joyi, EC
Noni Tenge EC
Gideon Buthelezi GP
PROSPECT OF THE YEAR
Gabisile Tshabalala GP
Joey Stigling GP
Luzuko Siyo EC
FIGHT OF THE YEAR
Sikhulile Sidzumo vs Samuel Malinga
Nkosinathi Joyi vs Raul Garcia
Chris van Heerden vs Boitshepo Mandawe
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR
Flo Simba over Adrean Ordiales
Tineyi Maridzo over Mickey Schultz
Macbute Sinyabi over Themba Lesiba
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Ludonga Promotions
Rainbow Promotions
KK Promotions
TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Elias Tshabalala
Lennox Mpulampula
Nick Durandt
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Jodi Solomons GP
Nick Durandt GP
Colin Nathan GP
RING OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Alan Matakane EC
Joseph Chaane GP
Thabo Spampool GP
MEDIA AWARD
SPECIAL AWARDS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
These will be announced on the night of the awards.
* * *
However, these nominations have received criticism in certain quarters.
In the Boxer of the Year category IBF junior flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane and IBF junior lightweight champion Mzonke Fana have been omitted.
That WBF woman’s welterweight belt holder Noni Tenge was nominated above the IBF champions is a travesty of justice as her two victories in 2010 were against novices like Agota Ilko from Hungary and Francisca Mbang from Cameroon.
Despite winning a second world belt with his victory over Hekkie Budler, Gideon Buthelezi also seems rather fortunate to have been nominated.
The promoters nominated are rather small league in relation to Golden Gloves Promotions and Branco Sports Productions.
When awards are made they should be for the best in the business.
