Fears of a total shutdown of South African boxing are mounting with Rodney Berman, the country’s most prominent promoter, deciding to postpone his March 9 tournament.
“This state of flux makes it impossible to go ahead as planned,” he said of the impasse that effectively sees Boxing SA treading water while court action decides on the legality of the new board.
The immediate consequence is that promoters cannot function, boxers cannot fight and fans cannot attend events because the legal framework that governs the sport is unresolved.
As long as it remains this way, the sport will be frozen; potentially the biggest crisis in local boxing since BSA was established 23 years ago.
“I’m left with no alternative but to postpone,” added a disappointed Berman, who has optimistically pencilled in April 6 as the new date, assuming that Boxing South Africa will have been resuscitated by then.
Fresh discussions are going on with various boxers and fight camps, not least because many boxers have been in training, even with this dark cloud looming overhead.
Berman is hopeful that the Keaton Gomes-Shaun Potgieter SA heavyweight championship fight will finally come together on the Emperors Palace card. He’s also planning a heavyweight fight for former champion Chris Thompson, plus several other undercard fights.
Not only is Berman frustrated, but so are tens of thousands of fans who are being denied the opportunity to watch local boxing, whether live or on television.
Emperors Palace have graciously accepted the change, so too various sponsors and partners.
But this is for the moment.
As the sport continues to teeter on the edge, will they stick around in the long term?
These are worrying times.
