Legend wants to take SA fighters to America for their big breaks

Boxing legend Roy Jones jnr is looking to create a pipeline to send South African boxers to the US.

Attending the launch of the new gym set up with his South African partner‚ Jodi Solomon‚ in Johannesburg‚ on Wednesday night‚ Jones also came faceto-face with his old foe‚ Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga.

Malinga was already 37 by the time he fought Jones‚ then 24‚ in 1993.

“To me‚ he didn’t have a fair chance [for opportunities]‚” Jones said of Malinga‚ who had already lost two world title cracks before he faced Jones.

“I didn’t even realise how difficult it was for a fighter to get out of South Africa to come fight in the US until I met him,” he said

Jones went on to do greater things‚ winning the world lightheavyweight and heavyweight crowns‚ while Malinga finally lifted the WBC super-middleweight title in 1996 when he was already 40 years old.

“I’m just trying to help speed up the process.”

Solomon has made a name for herself in the US as Isaac Chelemba’s representative over the past six years and says he wants to take SA boxers to the US without losing them to US trainers and managers.

“We [she and Chelemba] worked together for 10 years with no contract‚” said Solomon‚ adding she had met much resistance locally because she’s a woman.

“My greatest desire is to help boxers‚” said Solomon.

“My aim is not to be wealthy‚ it’s to be invited to their wealthy houses for a cup of tea one day.” —

I didn’t even realise how difficult it was for a fighter to get out of SA to come fight in the US

Roy Jones jnr