Embarassment over Ali's "on-off" fight in S.Africa

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Johannesburg (dpa) - Woman boxer Laila Ali's bid to honour the one-time wish of her legendary father Muhammad Ali to fight in South Africa has turned into a embarassing affair with allegations of fraud, deceit and rumour.

The 28-year-old light-middleweight champion arrived in the country last week for a much-touted fight against 36-year-old mother-of-five, Gwendolyn O'Neill of Guyana.

But days later - as many in boxing circles predicted - she reportedly pulled out of the "historic" fight scheduled for August 5 in the city of Cape Town.

But controversial promoter Joe Manyathi - who was seen gloating when Ali arrived, saying his detractors had been a motivating force in his successful bid to bring her to the country - was still insisting the fight would go ahead.

Ali's manager told reporters that Manyathi had failed to meet his financial obligations. Ali's fee was estimated at around 3.5 million rand (522,000 dollars).

Ali meanwhile stayed out of the limelight at a plush hotel on Cape Town's Atlantic seaboard while boxing circles began absorbing and debating the ramifications of Manyathi's latest boxing extravaganza.

For local boxing fans and television audiences worldwide, it remained unclear Tuesday whether Manyathi would be allowed to pursue his plan.

Questions were raised about how he set about organising the fight, and evidence came to light that the sport minister's signature had been forged on documents seeking the support of sport authorities in Cape Town.

Manyathi has a reputation for dreaming big. His empty promises of bringing boxers Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis for a clash in South Africa, and talk of organising a fight for Evander Holyfield are legend in boxing circles.

He also has a record of not paying local boxers the purses due to them, according to commentators in the sport.

While Manyathi insisted that he had met the requirements laid down by regulator Boxing South Africa to stage the fight, his rivals have offered to save the day.

In an interview with the Star newspaper on Tuesday, promoter Rodney Berman offered to give Ali a slot in a tournament he was organising in Johannesburg at the weekend.

"This reflects very badly on South Africa - and not just boxing - and is pathetic in light of the spotlight being on this country ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup," Berman was quoted as saying.

He told the newspaper that he was negotiating with Ali's management in a bid to "salvage something".

Sport minister Makhenkesi Stofile has meanwhile launched an investigation into the allegations against Manyathi's Sta-Trade promotions company.

Ali made her debut as a super-middleweight in 1999 and set out on a successful career in the ring. She is the current world super- middleweight champion.

Ali had indicated that a portion of the proceeds of her Cape Town fight, in which she would defend her title, would be given to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the charity started by the political icon, former South African president and erstwhile amateur boxer.