By MESULI ZIFO

The camp of newly crowned WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa is trying to ignore the rematch clause the fighter signed before facing Indonesian Chris John in Perth, Australia last Friday.

Vetyeka, who also owns the IBO championship, scored one of the upsets of the year when he forced John to quit at the end of the sixth round to snap the Indonesian's 51-fight unbeaten record and ended the ten year period in which he has held the WBA featherweight crown.

However while Vetyeka was paid only $20 000 for the historic win owing the contract signed by his former manager Nick Durandt, he might be forced to face John again for another pittance due to the rematch clause in the contract.

Vetyeka's new manager Andile Sidinile has confirmed that the contract the 32-year-old signed had a rematch clause but its unclear if it will be enforced.

“To be honest with you I do not like this clause firstly because it will do nothing to Vetyeka's career and secondly we are looking for big fights,” he said.

Sidinile said he will enter into negotiations with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) to see if Vetyeka can face some of the champions belonging to the promotion powerhouse.

“I think it is GBP that has big name fighters in the featherweight division and we want Vetyeka to be involved in such fights even if it means signing him to GBP.

“It is about time that Vetyeka engages in mega bouts that will pay him well instead of honouring a rematch with John.”

Sidinile adds that the punishment Vetyeka doled out to John and the Indonesian's struggle to make the featherweight may render the rematch impossible.

“John took such a frightful punishment in the fight I doubt very much if he will want to have anything to do with Vetyeka again. And let us not forget that he is also struggling to make the featherweight division.”

Sidinile said he would travel to US to be ringside when Abner Mares attempts to regain his WBC featherweight crown from Jhonny Gonzalez on February 15 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“We want Vetyeka to face the winner of that fight if everything is going according to plan.”