Ring banter should not be misconstrued

happens in boxing is not always what they seem to be, was the fact that on the very same day shortly after the fight the very same antagonists, who had engaged in verbal warfare before the fight would be on the phone laughing.

Remarks such as: “Ndivume Mqadi (Mtya’s clan name), ndiyakubetha one”. (loosely translated: “Give me credit Mqadi because I always get the better of you.”

Sometimes Mtya would come to our house in high spirits just to mock my father with jibes such as “Andinobethwa nguwe Spokes, kaloku amanqindi wawafundiswa ndim”. (“I can’t lose to you Spokes because I taught you boxing”).

So from a very young age I obliviously adopted the same mentality about boxing and that is to take it for what it is.

As a result I am unapologetic when it comes to vouching for a boxer that I feel stands a chance of winning a particular fight.

That does not mean I hate the other boxer.

Now with the advent of social media fans, who had never been exposed to that “open-mindedness” of boxing easily get lost and assume some healthy rivalries are battle lines.

Remarks such as accusing one of being a hater are rife.

My observation is that people who have followed boxing 2000’s adopt the same mentality of taking the sport as a sport and nothing else.

They use it as a platform to create friendships.

Boxing thrives on rivalries but being on opposite sides of the ring should not make us enemies.

People like myself with that understanding should try to educate others to enjoy this beautiful brutal sport.

L— onwabo Witbooi