Mike Dube a cornerman! Well that's how Boxing South African (BSA) chairperson Krish Naidoo sees the future of Dube after the decision of an independent disciplinary hearing to cancel his licence as a promoter with immediate effect.
However, Dube did not help his case by failing to attend the hearing in Brakpan.
The incident arose after Dube cut his ties at the 11th hour with a Vodacom Warriors tournament at Durban's North Beach on July 7.
The bill then had to be changed, which led to local BSA official Les Andreasen being forced to burn the midnight oil before getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure the event - live on SABC2 Blow by Blow Uncut - went ahead.
Naidoo, in a frank interview, said he was far from impressed with Dube's conduct regarding the big tournament and by his lack of manners in not informing BSA he would not be attending the hearing.
"Apart from the harm Dube did to the image of boxing regarding our sponsor Vodacom, we had to spend a considerable amount of money to ensure the tournament went ahead.
"If that tourney was cancelled, the embarrassment apart, hundreds of thousands of rand would have been lost.
"I am also disappointed as we at BSA had invested time and money in Dube (sponsored courses at High Performance Centre in Pretoria). Keep in mind too that he had another live TV tourney lined-up later in the year as well as a development tourney."
Naidoo said Dube had ignored advice from BSA leading up to the event and should have been more transparent regarding problems he was facing.
"Honestly, we do not need promoters like Dube. KwaZulu-Natal boxing will have to find a dedicated promoter or promoters to ensure boxing takes off again in the region."
It is known that trainer/promoter PJ de Lange intends putting pen to paper to BSA with the aim to try and secure these tourneys.
However, it is also known that De Lange's recent much talked-about but ultimately cancelled dinner tournament at the Golden Horse Casino in Pietermaritzburg has not done him any favours.
De Lange said that he had been reluctantly forced to call off the event after he received little backing, and local corporate houses distanced themselves from the tourney.
De Lange planned a tournament with corporate houses, organisations and families booking their tables for R300. In the package, the spectators were going to be offered a three-course meal, drinks, a variety of entertainment and the
boxing.
However, the answer to the promoting woes in the province could well be in the hands of the KwaZulu-Natal Boxing Federation.
Looking at some of the leading names involved here, one realises you have people who love boxing and are close to the grass-roots of boxing.
How about secretary Bongani Shezi, who is none other than the trainer of KwaZulu-Natal's Irvin Buhlalu, who a few weeks ago, won the national lightweight title.
Then there's the likes of Maxwell Malinga, Eric Khoza, Sylvester Mbokazi, Bernard Sikhakhane, Themba Latha, Nicholas Mzila, Xolani Nxumalo.
Nxumalo may be one to push as a promoter as, apart from having been a boxer, he has a diploma in management and works in the retail business as well as having strong links with the Shezi camps.
And for those who think that the federation is fly by night, then think again.
They are nationally recognised and were invited to attend BSA's Boxing Convention in Sandton earlier this year.
Sikhakhane, the vice-president of the federation and the chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Boxing Federation promoters, said the federation plan to hold a local tourney once a month in the province - 12 a year is the goal.
"R5 000 would be given to a promoter based on a financial plan to which all stake-holders have agreed to.
"We also working with the Department of Sport in the province, in order that we do everything right. Les And-reasen will be informed of our intentions.
"Boxing needs to get going again in province, but the right structures have to be put in place, as only then can we attract sponsors."
- This past weekend the KwaZulu-Natal Federation held a meeting where a promoters election took place. Sikhakhane was elected chairman of the promoters, Lionel Kubheka secretary and Alson Nkosi in charge of the treasury.
The federation will now hold a meeting where the boxers will elect their association. The managers and trainers will also go through the same process.
As Khoza explained: "Structures need to be put in place and once this has been established with the Department of Sport's rubber stamp, one of our promoters could be in a position to undertake a big TV tourney in Durban.
"However, before this we need to regular smaller tourneys."
There appears to be little sympathy over Dube from the federation.
The consensus is that Dube was not a team player and he should have worked with federation members and BSA official Andreasen to sort out any problems he had.