HIS EXCELLENCY
PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA
Johannesburg, South Africa
Your Excellency,
Please pardon me for sending you this open letter but I believe you are our only hope in obtaining justice for two Filipino boxers who have not been paid their hard-earned money by a South African boxing promoter.
I am Emmanuel F. Pi?ol, Provincial Governor of North Cotabato from 1998 to 2007, a long-time boxing manager and promoter who represents many Filipino boxers, including IBO World Junior Flyweight champion Rey Loreto.
On March 23, 2015, Loreto defended his title against South African two-time world champion Nkosinathi Joyi in a boxing promotion staged by boxing promoter Siphatho Handi of Mamali Sports Productions.
Another Filipino boxer, Jetly Purisima, also fought in a 10-round non-title bout in the undercard.
During the weigh-in on March 22, Handi along with the supervisor of Boxing South Africa Phakamile Jacobs and in the presence of a man who was introduced as representative of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government and IBO Supervisor Len Hunt, informed me and the boxers that the sponsorship money from the Eastern Cape Provincial Government had not been released in time.
Handi asked me and the boxers if we would agree to a delayed payment of the purse amounting to $47,000 for the two boxers. He assured me and the boxers that $2,000 would be paid after the fight and the remaining balance of $45,000 would be remitted to my bank account in the Philippines on March 25.
The IBO supervisor also agreed to a delayed payment of the sanction fees and that, along with the assurance from Jacobs and the representative of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, convinced us to agree. A promissory document was signed by Handi.
Loreto knocked out Joyi in the first round and Purisima lost by decision in 10 rounds.
The promised $45,000 was not remitted on March 25. It was not also sent on two other dates Handi promised to send it, April 7 and April 17.
Mr. President these boxers are poor boys who went through hardships and sacrifices to make a little money for their family.
I believe what Handi did to these two boxers was not only a case of a non-payment of a well-deserved prize money but exploitation and injustice.
Knowing of your deep sense of justice and your soft heart for the poor, I am appealing to Your Excellency to please help these two boxers get what is rightfully their hard-earned money.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
Very respectfully yours,
EMMANUEL F. PI?OL
Governor, North Cotabato 1998-2007
Philippine boxing manager and promoter
Photo: Promoter Siphatho Handi (C) during the official weighin of Rey Loreto and Nkosinathi Joyi on March 22.
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