QUITTING: FORMER South African featherweight champion Manelisi Mbilase has quit boxing citing family problems.
The boxer’s shock announcement came soon after he was sent packing by promoter Butityi Konki’s BK Sports.
Mbilase, who lost his crown during a re-match against Thando Vukuza last July, announced he had quit the sport in an SMS sent to former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-featherweight champion and trainer Vuyani Bungu, on Wednesday.
“I have quit boxing following the advice of my family. I had problems which started after I lost my title to Vukuza last year. BK offered me three fights but I couldn’t take them because of family problems. They gave me another chance recently but the problems couldn’t go away,” said Mbilase.
Though he refused to say why his family advised him to quit, it’s clear that financial problems had prompted the decision, as Mbilase lost out big-time after absconding from training late last year. Konki stopped paying his R10000 a month salary after Mbilase refused to fight in three bouts last year.
But Konki gave him another chance three weeks ago, hoping that Mbilase would come to his senses and return to training. But Mbilase again failed to pitch, that led to the BK Sports boss releasing Mbilase from his contract.
“I gave Mbilase an opportunity to fight on three occasions but he kept on saying he was not ready. I then stopped paying his monthly salary when he absconded from training towards the end of last year,” said Konki.
Mbilase was contracted to BK Sports from July last year and his deal was set to expire on January 1, 2012.
Bungu, who trained Mbilase, said: “ I think Mbilase has a big problem but he does not want to tell anyone about it. BK gave him three chances to fight last year but he told him that he was not ready and he now tells me that his family has told him to quit boxing.”
Popularly known as ‘Leli’ in boxing circles, Mbilase is the father of two children – nine and 10 months – from two different women.
Mbilase’s professional record reads 10 wins (two knockouts) and four losses.
Meanwhile, Konki has confirmed that former South African and World Boxing Union super-featherweight champion, Phillip Ndou has bolted out of his stable to rejoin his former trainer, Nick Durandt.
“I can confirm that Phillip is no longer part of our stable and has rejoined Durandt. I have since released him from his contractual obligations,” said Konki.
Ndou, who was earning R20000 monthly with Konki, signed a contract which was set to expire in April 2012.
“Normally, I don’t take boxers back once they leave me, but that’s not the case with Phillip because he is more like family to me,” said Durandt.
Ndou was Durandt’s best man when the controversial trainer got married 10 years ago and the trainer was also the boxer’s best man at his wedding two years ago. - By MONWABISI JIMLONGO
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