Ncitha swings back to hone fighters’ skills
After a while away from the hustle and bustle of boxing training demands, former world champion and legend Welcome Ncitha is back in the swing of things.
Considered one of the technically gifted trainers in the business, Ncitha has been used sparingly by boxers when going to big fights.
This is although his training methods are renowned for producing boxing talent.
Ncitha unearthed such talent as Nkosinathi Joyi, Mhikiza Myekeni, Gabula Vabaza and Lunga Ntontela, who all went on to win world titles, albeit after being poached from him.
This left him disillusioned, causing him to turn his back on boxing.
However, the passion he has for the sport prompted him to make comebacks by helping out boxers such as female sensation Sharoddene Fortuin, who produced her best performance when she was under his tutelage.
Ncitha also trained Siyabonga Siyo when he lost to Hekkie Budler.
Now he is back after being hired to train WBC silver junior bantamweight champion Yanga Sigqibo for his upcoming fight against Keyvin Lara of Nicaragua on December 7.
Ncitha will also try to revive the career of former prospect Nhlanhla Ngamntwini, who will face former SA junior-flyweight champion Mfundo Gwayana in the same show.
Ngamntwini will be fighting for the first time since his stunning knockout loss to Mexican journeyman Ulises Lara in July.
The December 7 show will be organised by Xaba Promotions and will be topped by Lara taking on Athi Dumezweni for the WBA international junior bantamweight crown.
XP boss Ayanda Matiti confirmed that Ncitha would be in the corners of Sigqibo and Ngamntwini.
“The boxers themselves requested Welcome Ncitha to train them,” he said.
Ncitha comes after the duo left their long-time trainer Ben Mtyaliselo, who was in their corners in their last bouts.
It is the second time Ncitha and Mtyaliselo are involved in some sort of tug-of-war over boxers after Siyo opted to be trained by the former world champion instead of his father Mtyaliselo.
Several attempts to get hold of Mtyaliselo proved futile, but Matiti insisted that there was no dissatisfaction on either side.
Ncitha holds the record of being the first ever world champion from the Eastern Cape and only the second SA black boxer to win a world title after Peter Mathebula.
While it is often hard for former boxers to transition into successful trainers, that has not been the case with him.
While his return to training boxers is warmly welcomed, Ncitha has often clashed with people who interfere in his job at the corner.
His manning of the corners of Ngamntwini and Sigqibo will therefore be closely monitored, as Matiti tends to budge into the corner of the boxers when the going gets tough, a move which won’t be entertained by the authoritative Ncitha.