[imagesource: Twitter / SABC SPORT]

Boxers and trainers often have flawed, feisty relationships.

Trainers have to be hard on their prized fighters and that can lead to tension outside of the ring.

I’m sure that punches are often thrown in the gym, but it’s certainly not common to see a trainer assault his boxer’s opponent in the actual ring.

On Sunday afternoon, trainer Michael Sediane landed a number of punches on professional boxer Jeff Magagane at Booysens Gym in a fight that was being televised live on SABC.

Magagane had been fighting Sthembiso Maduna, who is trained by Sediane, in a featherweight contest.

The Sowetan reports that Sediane’s attack took place right before the verdict was to be announced

There was existing sporting hostility between the two camps. It was borne out of the decision that favoured Maduna in their first fight in Durban in March last year…

[Magagane] probably knew he won the rematch – hence he ran to Maduna’s corner to make his pre-celebrations. Sediane then unleashed a series of well-executed combinations but luckily Magagane’s defence was tight.

You can see those punches right at the end of this clip with an incredulous commentator watching on:

Appalling behaviour by trainer (and former pro) Michael Sediane, aggrieved that his fighter, Sithembiso Maduna, lost narrowly to Jeff Magagane in Booysens on Sunday. No room for his sort. pic.twitter.com/uysjS4NOA2

— Clinton van der Berg (@ClintonV) May 31, 2022

The same footage was also shared on YouTube:

Neither Magagane nor his trainer Alan Toweel Jr. fought back. The chairman of the Gauteng Boxing Promoters Association, Tshele Kometsi, then leapt into the ring and removed Sediane.

He has since issued an apology and Toweel Jr. says they’re not looking to take further action. However, Boxing South Africa (BSA) may choose to take disciplinary action, and has released a statement saying they’re investigating and “boxing stakeholders will be informed in due course of the outcome”.

Maybe a rematch featuring Magagane versus Sediane is in order?

[source:sowetan]