True genius has hung up golden gloves of life
forward and represents a big milestone for our organisation and the future of boxing.”
Director-general of ITA, Benjamin Cohen, added that ensuring clean competitions was central to the integrity and reputation of any sport.
“Aiba’s proactive approach is completely consistent with the ITA’s position as an independent and trusted partner in the protection of clean sport. By entrusting the full range of its anti-doping programme to us at the ITA, we hope in turn that we can enable Aiba to focus fully on its core mission of developing boxing.
“We look forward to providing Aiba with our expertise and are fully committed to support Aiba in its fight against antidoping.” When springs run dry the people suffer and die of thirst. When the supply of oxygen is cut off, the heart stops beating, resulting in death.
The passing of Ntaba "Bra Ntabes" Mtyongwe, one of the greatest boxing trainers this country has ever produced, is like if a spring that once quenched the thirst of multitudes of people for decades has run dry.
If boxing was on its last breath, this week the heart of boxing finally stopped beating.
Bra Ntabes has gracefully hung up his golden gloves of life. His passing is clouded by a mixture of emotions.
Some negative ones emanate from the political regime under which he served his tenure as a trainer. Other emotions are embracing and appreciative of his massive contribution to boxing.
Boxing has been dogged by so much controversy and negativity that it is imperative that Bra Ntabes’ passing be used to bring a sense of pride back to the sport.
It is no use asking why he did not plough his knowledge back into boxing by mentoring other trainers.
The question that should be asked is whether there are any trainers who can continue on that path that he created and shine up the dim image of boxing. Another question is whether we ever learned anything from him.
Considering the boxers he produced, with Mgxaji and Nkosinkulu being the most prominent – especially with the limited resources at the time – one can only admire his massive talent for spotting raw talent and polishing it into a gem.
Even more admirable is that Bra Ntabes produced boxers who shaped boxing in East London.
Mgxaji had his style, which mesmerised fans with speed and wallops.
Then came Nkosinkulu with pinpoint, jaw-breaking accuracy and carefully selected punches.
He is the only trainer who had a direct hand in the transition from wallops to ubetha phakathi [punching inside]. Even today ubetha phakathi forms part of boxing basics in East London.
For that style to be fully functional to this day clearly shows that Bra Ntabes was far ahead of his time – a genius, a master motivator and a teacher of original boxing.
Although his era was way before our time, his work is timeless. His works and teachings remain the core from which boxing flows and as long as there is still a sport called boxing, his name shall not be forgotten.
He went the full distance in the fight of life, giving his all in every single round. He now deserves to rest. He did it! He won! And boxing, especially East London boxing, will forever celebrate his victory.
May his soul rest in eternal glory.