Golden Gloves Promotions (GGP) representative Brian Mitchell left for Germany this weekend to attend the World Boxing Council (WBC) convention, where he will lobby for Siyakholwa Kuse to be installed as a mandatory challenger after beating his charge Beaven Sibanda.
Eastern Cape fighter Kuse won the WBC silver belt with Friday's defeat of Sibanda at Emperors Palace, leaving him on the doorstep of challenging strawweight champion Melvin Jerusalem from the Philippines.
The convention, which started on Sunday in Hamburg, will also be attended by Jerusalem and other dignitaries, including budding East London promoter Mzi Booi, who trades under KayB Promotions.
GGP boss Rodney Berman was initially scheduled to attend the event but decided to let Mitchell, who will be honoured at the convention, represent the company including lobbying for Kuse's case.
Ironically Kuse scored a points victory over Sibanda, managed by Mitchell, to win the sanctioning body’s silver mini-flyweight title in Berman’s show at Emperors Palace on Friday evening.
Kuse prevailed with scores of 117-111 by Zambia’s Francis Chirwa and Ben Ncapai’s 115-114 while the third judge, Zimbabwean Gloria Dera, saw her compatriot Sibanda doing enough to earn a draw with a 114-114 tally.
However, Kuse controlled the fight and only allowed Sibanda back in the last two rounds when fatigue set in due to a struggle with altitude.
Kuse's manager Mlandeli Tengimfene said he complained of chest tightness in the last three rounds, which made it impossible for him to breathe.
“I pleaded with him to win at least one of the remaining three rounds because I knew we already had the fight in the bag,” he said.
Kuse spent nearly four weeks preparing for the fight in Johannesburg to negate altitude challenges, a move that Tengimfene said helped the boxer win the fight.
“When altitude set in we had already done most of the work and, due to outstanding physical fitness, Kuse still had his legs behind him, so he was able to dig into his bagful of tricks to survive Sibanda’s late rally,” he said.
I think the body of work Kuse has done will qualify him as a mandatory though a direct challenge to Jerusalem will be most welcome.
— Mlandeli Tengimfene
Kuse was ranked fifth by the WBC before the win and will be expected to move up the rankings and qualify for an eliminator.
However, Tengimfene said the southpaw’s wish was to be installed as a mandatory which Mitchell would lobby for.
“I think the body of work Kuse has done will qualify him as a mandatory though a direct challenge to Jerusalem will be most welcome.”
Tengimfene said he would have attended the convention but had to remain behind to prepare for the Last Born Promotions tournament at East London’s Orient Theatre on Sunday.
Jerusalem is enjoying a voluntary defence window having fulfilled his mandatory obligations by beating Mexican Luis Castillo in September.
Castillo earned the mandatory spot by knocking out East London boxer Ayanda Ndulani in May 2022.
Mitchell and the late Dingaan “Rose of Soweto” Thobela will be honoured when they are presented with the WBC's prestigious green and gold belt at the convention.
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