Boxing fraternity bids farewell to popular ring official
The death of East London’s Wonga Louis Smith, 97, is being mourned as a huge loss to Eastern Cape boxing.
Boxing South Africa (BSA) ring official and gloves steward Smith died in his sleep at home on Monday after suffering from illness.
“He will be sorely missed. Bhut’ Louis was a genuine member of the game who was in boxing for 50 years.
“He was a man of action, leadership, knowledge of the sport and its rules and regulations,” former BSA acting CEO Loyiso Mtya said.
Boxing SA honoured Smith with the Lifetime Achievement Award during its awards in Durban at the ICC last year.
According to Mtya, though he never turned professional, Smith was there when boxing started in the Eastern Cape in 1955.
He joined the sport kwaTsolo in East London, but because of age he concentrated more on the administration of clubs and would later join the Border Boxing Board of Control as a gloves steward.
This was until just before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Smith became a professional boxing ring official without pay Mtya said, and his participation was purely as a hobby. This was until 2004 after which they received a stipend to cover transport costs.
“He performed his duties with honour and diligence. A towering, quiet and peaceful figure who was always punctual and would never make a mistake and say, mix and confuse gloves that were meant for a certain weight division during boxing tournaments,” BSA Eastern Cape provincial manager Phakamile Jacobs, who joined professional boxing as a referee and judge in 1980, said.
Jacobs reminisced about the good times and lessons he learnt from Smith, like going to the anterooms to check the boxers’ bandaging and readiness before going to the ring as well as ensuring the tightness of the ropes and canvass before the first bout.
International Boxing Organisation (IBO) fight commissioner for Africa’s Andile Matika shared the sentiments.
He said Smith made a huge contribution to boxing development in SA. He said Smith was a dedicated, and selfless man who played a pivotal role in the sport and also helped him a lot.
“Condolences to his family, friends, and the entire boxing fraternity, Matika said.
“The family is sad to lose a father but also understands that he was old and suffering and that we could not take his pains. May our dad dearest rest in peace,” Smith’s daughter Nomphelo, 54, said.
She said she appreciated that her father loved boxing and that they too as his children followed him and ended up enjoying going with him to watch fights.
Smith is survived by daughters Nontsikelelo (60), Phumeza (58), Nomphelo, two grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.
He will be buried at Cambridge Cemetery today after a short prayer service at his home at Thembalethu Location, otherwise known as Dice in Reeston, at 8am and a funeral service at Gompo Hall in East London from 10am.