Former SA champ dies

FORMER South African juniorheavyweight champion Freddy Rafferty has died.

Just days after the passing of revered former referee and judge Len Hunt‚ boxing is mourning the loss of another one of its sons.

Rafferty’s former trainer Jeff Ellis told TimeLIVE yesterday his former charge died of a heart attack at his gym in Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday.

Ellis, who together with Willie Lock honed the skills of Rafferty in Yeoville, described him as “a gentle giant”.

The 80-year-old Lock could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Born in the Free State 53 years ago, Rafferty retired in 1997 after losing to Douglass Sibiya at Town Hall in Empangeni. He had won 32 fights, 14 losses and two draws.

Legendary boxing writer Ron Jackson said of Rafferty: “After fighting to a draw with Jonjo Greene from the United Kingdom in Durban and winning against Weaver Qwabe, he lost three fights in a row and this included a return match with Greene.

“Between 1987 and 1988 things improved with an upset seventh round knockout win over former South African light-heavyweight and WBA junior-heavyweight champion Piet Crous at Sun City.”

After moving into the juniorheavyweight class, Rafftery won the vacant Transvaal juniorheavyweight title with a first round knockout over Reginald Mazingane.

He then captured the vacant South African junior-heavyweight title with a third round stoppage against Gideon Hlongwa in Durban. — TimesLIVE