Boxing SA must now pay boxers’ share of their benevolent fund, after minister of sport, arts and culture Gayton McKenzie’s pledge of R1m towards that fund.

The call was made yesterday by promoter Promise Moyo, who is married to retired boxer Phillip “Time Bomb” Ndou.

The benevolent fund is aimed at ensuring retired and injured boxers are supported, specifically mentioning the need for insurance to cover medical attention

It is funded by a 1.5% deduction from boxers’ purses.

It dropped from R11.6m (2022) to R6.25m (2023), with McKenzie stating millions were “gone”. In April, he pledged R1m, which he said was to revive the boxers’ benevolent fund.

Moyo said all boxers who contributed towards the fund must be paid. “It’s their money,” the boss of Iron Lady Promotion said.

Ndou’s most notable fight was an entertaining seven-round bout against WBC lightweight champion Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather Jr on November 1 2003.

“Phillip is boxing creation,” she said. “They ended his career in an unsavoury manner a day before he signed for boxing in 2016.

”Tsholofelo Lejaka, who told me that he decided not to allow Phillip to go ahead with his boxing match in Mpho Khorombi’s tournament, was informed by a recommendation made by BSA provincial manager Archie Nyingwa.

“Lejaka said Archie was unhappy about Phillip’s performance in his fight, which he lost on points to Ntuthuko Memela in Kibler Park.”

Moyo promoted the IBF Africa welterweight boxing match in February 2016.

Moyo said: “I first received a letter with Lejaka’s signature demanding that Phillip must go for two scans – a brain and a CT scan – three weeks before the fight.

“We did as advised and we received the results, which cleared Phillip.

“There was a report on the scar he had on his head. We then forwarded those results right away to BSA.

“There was no communication or acknowledgement from BSA to indicate that they received the results until a day before the fight.”

Moyo said that communication was sent to her a day before the fight.

“The message was that a decision was taken that Phillip cannot go ahead with the fight due to the medical result of the scan we sent to them,” said Moyo.

“I called Lejaka and asked how he decides on a medical issue when he is not a medical doctor.

“He told me that the decision he took was based on the recommendation made by BSA provincial manager Archie Nyingwa.

“He convened a meeting between me, Phillip, himself and Peter Ngatane. That is where they told us Phillip can’t box.

“I then asked about the benevolent fund, and Lejaka said there was no money in that fund.”

“McKenzie has resolved the matter; there is money now in the benevolent fund.

“I demand that BSA pay Phillip and all other boxers who contributed towards the fund,” said Moyo. “It’s their money.”