Patrick Malinga must be congratualted for hanging up boxing gloves

We really love boxing, but truly speaking, it’s not a healthy sport.

I congratulate the former SA lightweight kingpin, Patrick “Hammer” Malinga, for calling it quits at the age of 38.

His last professional fight was the one that opened his mind and eyes after 31 pro fights in 20 years.

I quit the unhealthy game after 36 fights from 1972 to 1976.

I spent four years as a professional boxer, and it is hard to believe that I used to engage in five fights in one month.

I am the former Transvaal junior lightweight champ.

I defended the title twice and retained it, then skipped the country and went into exile.

This was after 36 fights, losing five on points and one draw. Of my 30 wins, 27 were within the distance.

I do not regret fighting for our country.

It’s only the new “hungry lions” leaders who frustrate me because of being greedy.

Apartheid forced me to call it quits in 1976 and I never hesitated.

On coming back home after 16 years, I was heartbroken to see boxers that I last saw in 1976 in the state of physical health that they were in.

But I still love boxing, irrespective of what it did to my colleagues. It’s all in the game! Ben “TNT” Lekalake Soweto