‘Tongue of Stone’ recalls the heady days
Ex-promoter Segal was all excitement in SA boxing
Mike “Tongue of Stone” Segal may have hung up his boxing gloves, albeit as a promoter, but still follows the fistic sport with passion.
This is the man who promoted all the best boxers in South Africa for over two decades.
Segal earned his moniker after failing to pronounce the first name of Lehlohonolo “Hands of Stone” Ledwaba.
His tongue-twisting moment happened at a media briefing to announce that he had signed Ledwaba to his stable.
As he addressed the horde of journalists that day, Segal said in a hoarse voice: “Mike Segal Productions has signed Lehlo in our stable.”
Sowetan boxing writer, the late Junior Motsei, interrupted him and said: “Sir, could you pronounce the man’s name please.”
Segal, 67, with his disarming smile, said “okay I will try” and he just could not.
The snazzy dresser, who was also in the business of selling men’s fashion in downtown Johannesburg, then acquired the “Tongue of Stone” nickname.
Segal recalls his involvement in boxing began “as a stroke of luck”.
“I was doing promotion for big guys who came and did big shows here. One day this gentleman with a clean-shaven head walked through the door of my store and came right straight to me.
“He said you do all these promotions and sponsorships for internationals [but] why don’t you get involved with one of South Africa’s soon-to-be world boxing champion. I said ‘who is that guy’, and he said he is standing right in front of you and talking to you.”
It was Arthur “Fighting Prince” Mayisela, but Segal admitted to have not known the boxer then. He ended up being Mayisela’s manager.
Mayisela, like Segal, was a smart dresser. Sadly, Mayisela died in a car crash at the height of his career in 1984. “That hurt me so bad,” reflected Segal. “But I soldiered on and flew overseas to foster relationships with big boys in the business.”
Segal had a fruitful business deal with English promoter Barry Hearn, who was in charge of WBO super middleweight champion, the flamboyant Chris “Simply the Best” Eubank.
Hearn and Segal brought Eubank to South Africa in October 1994 for the “Night of the Giants” tournament at Sun City, North West, where the British showman retained his belt against American Dan Schoemmer.
Segal’s charge at the time, Jacob “Baby Jake” Matlala, beat Prettyboy Lucas for the WBO flyweight title. In the undercard, there was the first Commonwealth title fight staged in SA. In that bout, Stanford “Baby Blues” Ngcebeshe lost to Billy Hardy of the UK on points.
“We then did many world title fights featuring Matlala, Dingaan Thobela, Ledwaba, Gary Murray, Mzukisi Sikali, Mpush Makambi, Peter Malinga and many more,” reminisced Segal.
He later sent Morgan Ndumo to the US to challenge WBC mini flyweight champion Ricardo Lopez at the MGM Grand Hotel in November 1996.
The fight was the under-card of the WBA heavyweight championship where Evander Holyfield (KO 11).
“That was my connection with promoter Don King,” enthused Segal, who worked with top promoters in every corner of the globe where SA fighters fought.
Locally, Segal worked with publicist Wilf Rosenberg and matchmaker Moss Marupe “Lord Mayor” Tau.
“Those were the days,” said an emotional Segal, whose last tournament in SA coincided with the WBC’s convention at Nasrec in 1998.
He remains optimistic that SA will still produce world beaters like Malinga, Brian Mitchell, Welcome Ncita, Matlala, Makambi, Gerrie Coetzee, Sikali, Ledwaba and Vuyani Bungu.
‘‘ I was doing promotion for big guys who came to SA and would do big shows here