Is Laila Ali S.A.’s pugilistic yoyo?

South African boxing officials want to lure Laila Ali back to the country after a scheduled fight card was scuttled because the promoter didn’t come up with promised funds when promised.

Ali returned to the United States two days ago after it became apparent that promoter Joe Manyathi wasn’t coming through with necessary funding as promised.

“The main thing in this whole issue was that there was a lot of mistrust… the main sponsor withdrew financial support so the Laila Ali camp became nervous,” Boxing SA spokesperson Loyisa Mtya said to Rueters.

A new sponsor had been identified, the new report says, and officials put the word out to Ali that they’d love for her to get back on a plane for another 20 hour ride and fight Gwen O’Neil on Aug. 5, as originally planned.

They’ll have to do better than a pack of peanuts and a soda to get her back, IMO…

“As of now everything is looking positive,” Mtya said.

So says he.

Ali, if she has any common sense left, will not be lured back for another round of idiocy.