Death of legend Len Hunt great loss to SA boxing
DAYS after the death of the legendary Len Hunt‚ South African boxing officials are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of the revered former referee and judge.
His wife, Wendy, said Hunt, 79, had an operation at Johannesburg’s Linksfield Hospital on Wednesday but did not recover, dying on Saturday.
“Len’s stomach gave him big troubles‚” she said.
Known as a soft-spoken but forthright official in his time inside the ring‚ Hunt was forced to take a break from the sport he had served with distinction for well over 40 years when his stomach started to give him a lot of discomfort.
During that time‚ he was serving the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) as its Championship Supervisor in Africa.
He was appointed to that position by IBO president Ed Levine, based in Florida, in the US.
Boxing SA chairwoman Muditambi Ravele reacted with shock when told of his death and said the sport had lost one of its greatest servants.
“When did that happen?” she asked. “What a loss.”
Ravele conceded that boxing in this country had not taken full advantage of Hunt’s deep knowledge and understanding of the sport.
“Len goes with massive knowledge of boxing.
“We wish he had imparted his knowledge to Andile Matika‚ who is now IBO Championship Supervisor.
“What I remember Len for was his passion for the sport and his manner of approach to issues.
“He had his way of trying to find a solution.
“Len would approach me many times when he was unhappy, rather than [let me hear] his complaint from other people. “He would come directly to me. “He would also convey the message of happiness to me when a solution had been found.
“Len will be deeply missed.”
Many will remember Hunt for standing up to Stan Christodoulou’s leadership style when Christodoulou was chairman of the SA Boxing Commission (as it was then).
BSA Gauteng manager Archie Nyingwa recalled the times when they had challenged the status quo.
“I remember us [Hunt‚ Carlos Jacamo‚ Jeff Ellis‚ Obed Molewa and other guys] travelling in my minibus taxi from Durban where we had met stakeholder,” Nyingwa said.
“We went together to most provinces to influence stakeholders to stand up against dictatorship.
“The boxing fraternity will miss Len badly.”
Ellis – now a promoter – described Hunt as a stalwart who lived‚ ate‚ and walked boxing.
Veteran boxing writer Ron Jackson said Hunt had first applied to be a promoter in 1970.
“In those days they were much stricter and he sat at ringside for two years‚ filling in dummy scorecards.
“He then wrote a tough two-hour examination‚ which he passed, before being allowed to officiate.
“About 18 months later, he had to write another exam to qualify to referee and judge.”
Hunt refereed and judged South African and intercontinental bouts, but rather sadly never received an appointment to officiate in any fight of the four major organisations – the WBA‚ WBC‚ WBO or the IBF.
Eventually, he approached the WBU and was appointed to referee a number of fights.