Boost local boxing

KHAYELITSHA remains the home of boxing champions in the Western Cape in spite of hardships faced by the community.

It was with great excitement that Mzuvukile Magwaca won the WBA international bantamweight title when he beat José Gonzalez (Mexico) on points in East London on Friday night.

The South African won the 12-round bout at the Orient Theatre 116-112 on two cards and 116-111 on the third. Magwaca worked his way to a deserved victory, if not a particularly dominating one, taking his record to 18-1, including nine knockouts and a technical draw. Gonzalez dropped to 26-5, with 12 wins inside the distance.

Mzuvukile “Old Bones” Magwaca remains the beacon of hope to many young people from Khayelitsha who are sometimes embroiled in crime, drugs and other social ills. We are very proud of the talent Khayelitsha has produced under the stewardship of Zola Kota, who was twice voted the country’s boxing coach of the year.

Often, when boxers from our province go to fight and come back, they don’t receive the media coverage enjoyed by some sporting codes from the local media. Some even receive frontpage coverage, yet boxing champions, who subsequently become role models, don’t receive the same recognition.

I read your newspapers every day; I don’t remember boxing receiving media coverage, except the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Pacman. Western Cape townships have talent, and we are asking the media to work with us in covering this talent.

Toto Helebhe, who is a bantamweight South African champion, will be defending his title in East London. I doubt Western Cape media is aware of this, yet in the Eastern Cape the fight has received media coverage.

Boxing is one of the most underrated sports in the Western Cape and it deserves to be uplifted through the media. We hope and trust that our request for fair media coverage will receive consideration.