South Africa’s bad boy of boxing, Jared “The Storm” Lovett is in trouble with the law once again.
But this time it could put an end to his boxing career.
The 24-year-old boxer was arrested at his home in Glenvista last week, when the police discovered a mini drug lab and dagga with a street value of around R20 000 on the premises.
That same day the police arrested the two sons of former world champion boxer Brian Mitchell.
Brian Mitchell jnr, 24, Nathan Mitchell, 22, and their friend Nicholas de Anscensao, 23, were all arrested in Bassonia, south of Joburg, after allegedly being found in possession of dagga to the value of R1 500.
It is believed that the three men then led Mondeor Police to Lovett’s home, where they had discovered the drug lab.
Lovett was taken with the three to the Mondeor police cells where they all spent the Easter weekend behind bars.
The four appeared in court on Tuesday, where they were granted bail.
“They will all appear together in court in two weeks’ time on May 16,” said Constable Sibongile Mnguni of the Mondeor Police Station.
This is not the first time that Lovett has been in trouble with the law.
In 2009, Lovett, Lee Dyer, Zane Mandel (all professional fighters) and Aubrey Lovett (Jared’s father) were accused of assaulting diners at San Vineros restaurant in the south of Joburg.
The matter was never reported to the police, only to Boxing South Africa. No action was taken.
His promoter Rodney Berman, however, was furious and warned Lovett about his shenanigans away from the boxing ring.
“The kid has to know that he is a professional boxer and that demands living a clean life, free of controversial incidents, such as the one (which recently took place at a restaurant),” said Berman.
A professional since April 2008, Lovett won his first six bouts on stoppages en route to being nominated as South African boxing’s “Prospect of the Year” for 2008.
Last year, the 24-year-old was banned from boxing for two years after he had tested positive for steroids. He was found guilty of using Stanozolol.
He was also suspended from boxing by Boxing SA for making a racial slur and getting into fights outside the ring.
His sponsors Mining Pressure System and Auto Fever also froze their sponsorship with him.
Once suspended, Lovett said he intended to use his time out of the ring to his advantage by taking up cage fighting in the US, but that didn’t work out.
Berman had organised a contract with American Cage Fighting but the deal fell through.
Lovett would not speak to the press this week.