Trainer flays judges after loss

Malinga says there’s plot against his family

Emerging boxing trainer Vus’Umuzi Malinga has lambasted judges for what he termed a dubious scoring which saw his charge Bongani Bhuti lose against Thato Bonokoane.

The fight was for the vacant Gauteng junior featherweight belt in Kagiso, West Rand, on Saturday and Malinga insisted that his charge won the fight.

The trainer pointed fingers at Simon Mokadi, who scored the closely contested 10rounder 92-98 in favour of Bonokoane. “Simon’s score did not even come closer to the complexion of the fight.

“Such decisions are bad for the image of boxing because potential sponsors see and read about these things in newspapers. Why then would they get involved in boxing when it is full of controversies?”

Mokadi’s colleagues Tony Nyangiwe and Pumeza Zinakile scored the fight 96-94 for Bonokoane and a draw at 95-95.

Mokadi is one of the top judges in Gauteng.

“It looks like there is an agenda to fight against our family’s legacy,” said the last born son of late trainer Jabulani Malinga.

Malinga’s older brother Peter held the SA, WBU and IBO welterweight belts; Patrick was the SA lightweight champion, while Vus’Umuzi was the SA bantamweight holder.

Malinga added that they experienced something new in boxing at Emperors Palace a fortnight ago when a referee was overruled by a fight supervisor.

“A referee stopped the fight in favour of our boxer after his opponent Ayabonga Sonjica had turned his back,” Malinga said.

“But the referee was overruled by fight supervisor. The fight resumed and we lost it on points. Now it is here in Kagiso. What have we done to be treated like this?” he asked.