Ricochet News

Boxing promoters elect provincial structure, discuss Eastern Cape boxing

Jul 17, 2019
Boxing promoters elect provincial structure, discuss Eastern Cape boxing

East London - More than 40 delegates gathered in Chintsa at a three-day Eastern Cape Boxing Promoters workshop to find amicable solutions to improve boxing development in the Province.

The discussions, which started on Monday, were around the administration and structural challenges that have contributed negatively towards the overall image of boxing.  

Highlighting the importance of boxing in EC, the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) MEC Fezeka Bayeni at her opening remarks indicated that, “Boxing is a sport with a great potential of taking a child from eGalini eZiphunzane to the greatest world stages. Boxing can literally change lives and break the cycle of poverty, the economic and developmental potential of boxing is huge.”

“We therefore gathered you here today to answer the questions how do we unlock this potential? How do we ensure that our province lives up to its name of being the ‘Mecca of Boxing’? How do we change the lives of our people and the face of our province through boxing.”

MEC Bayeni further added that, “When we gather about the boxing business, we must all always ensure that the must be boxer at the centre of our deliberations, we must all appreciate that without boxers there can be no sport of boxing. As Promoters, BSA, Sporting Federations, our Department and everyone involved in boxing, our work is to produce great boxers.”

Over the three days the boxing promoters were able to discuss matters concerning Boxing Regulations Review, Sanctioning Matters, Licencing, Women in Boxing, Infrastructure, Boxing Legacy and elected a provincial structure called the Eastern Cape Boxing Promoters Association (ECBPA).

The association amongst its duties will take the matters raised at the workshop as recommendations to be discussed in depth with Boxing South Africa (BSA).

The names and position of the ECBPA are as follows:

  1. Chairperson: Mr Tando Zonke
  2. Deputy Chairperson: Mr Kaya Majeke
  3. Secretary: Mr Bongani Zulu
  4. Vice Secretary: Mrs Monica Goci
  5. Treasure: Ms Sibongile Nkebe
  6. Additional Members: Tobela Ngodwana, Kwezi Booi, Mlungisi Siyo, Xolani Mampunye, Tando Nqanqali.

BSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tholofelo Lejaka who was part of the workshop indicated that, “We are happy that the Eastern Cape is having these dialogues and discussions which have been talking place in Gauteng lead by promoters, to deal with housekeeping issues such as boxers being exploited and issues that will arise during these platforms and discuss the resolutions.”

The EC has the biggest number of professional boxers in South Africa. In terms of the current registration statics from BSA, the numbers are increasing every year, and this also results in the domination of rankings in the majority of divisions being occupied by the EC Boxers.

The love of boxing in the Province has also rubbed off onto the young females who are now dominating the National arena as well. Boxing in the EC is currently not just a sport but an activity that defines the daily life of both the young and old.  

Image: Front Row from left - Sibongile Nkebe, Khaya Majeke, Thando Zonke, Mrs Monica Goci and Bongani Zulu. Back row from left - Thobeka Ngodwana, Mlungisi Siyo, Kwezi Booi, Xolani Mampunye and Thando Nqanqali.  

