JOYI PROMISES A WIN

Joyi promises to win

By Tabisa Mntengwana
18 March 2010

NKOSINATHI JOYI has promised to make his hometown and his fans proud when he takes on Raul Garcia on Friday, 26 March.

The fight between Joyi and the Mexican will be held at the East London International Convention Centre in Quigney. It is organised by the City and Branco Sports Productions, which has hosted over 300 tournaments in South Africa.

Addressing the media at a press conference at the centre on Wednesday, 17 March, Joyi said: “I promise I will not disappoint my fans together with the sponsors of the fight as they have put so much effort into making a success of the event.”

Encouraging the local champion, Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku said that holding the fight in East London would give Joyi the homeground advantage. The municipality had invested R2,5-million in the tournament.

“Our decision to provide the needed funds was based on several factors, the strongest being an official aspiration to bring the fight to Buffalo City.”

Over and above the 12-round contest, aspiring boxers will slug it out as curtain raisers. Lusanda Komanisi will take on Ntobeko Duma, and Thembelani Mphuma will be in the ring opposite Khulile Makheba.

Branco Milenkovic, of Branco Sports Productions, said the event was expected to draw more than a thousand spectators because of the capacity of the convention centre. “The centre can host a large number of fans and we are expecting a number of international visitors during the fight.”

The acting chief executive officer, Loyiso Mtya, added: “East London is a boxing mecca and by hosting this [tournament] it gives confirmation that so many more events of this nature are set to come to our shores.”

He also thanked the sponsors for making it possible for Joyi and Garcia to get in the ring together.

Over the years, East London had built itself a reputation as a boxing mecca and “we as the people’s municipality have an obligation to preserve this legacy, alongside other sports and cultural profiles that the city enjoys”, said Faku.

Milenkovic said his company would conduct a number of legacy projects in East London over the coming months.

Tickets for the fight are available at Computicket and on 083 915 8000, and will be sold at the door.