Remembering Bra Saxon when he was ring warrior

THE death of former Cape juniorfeatherweight champion Saxon Ngqayimbana last week took the boxing fraternity by surprise, although he had long stopped to be seen in public.

Ngqayimbana, 58, died at his NU5 Mdantsane home where he was living alone.

Due to the bad state of his body, a quick funeral was arranged and he was buried last Sunday.

Ngqayimbana campaigned during the era of deep talent in the juniorfeatherweight and featherweight divisions.

This was the era of Jackie Gunguluza, Zweli Ngcongolo, Vuyani Mbinda, Billy Mkhenkcele, Fraser Ndzandze, Patrick Mboma, to mention but a few.

He was upset by a six-fight novice called Vuyani Bungu, who would go on to conquer the world.

Bungu and Gunguluza recall their bouts against Ngqayimbana.

BUNGU: “I recall bra Saxon vividly. We used to go and watch him at Sisa Dukashe stadium when we were kids. He was a feared fighter with a big frame for a junior-featherweight. When I was about to fight him I knew that I would be severely tested, and if I passed the test there would no stopping me.”

THE BOUT: “The fight was on June 5 in 1988 at Orient Theatre. I was nervous but bra Mzi (Mnguni, his trainer) worked on my psyche. I had youth as an advantage. Bra Saxon had a bagful of tricks, many which bordered on rough-house antics. I recall in the later rounds when he thrust his thumb into my eye and I could not see. I finished the fight partially blind but I had already built a lead to prevail on points.”

GUNGULUZA: “He was too strong and powerful and he bulldozed me around the ring. Back then the junior-featherweight division was teaming with talent. You knew that every bout was like a national title challenge because of the fierce competition.”

THE BOUT: “The bout was held in Port Elizabeth and, if I recall correctly, I was a novice of four bouts. He was already in the game so he had plenty of experience. He bulldozed me to a stoppage defeat. As I amassed experience I hunted him down for a rematch but he would hear none of it. There was one thing about Saxon. If he had beaten you, he did not want to fight you again. But he was such a talented fighter that it is hard to fathom why he never won the SA title. Perhaps it is because he competed during an era when there was plenty of talent in the juniorfeatherweight and featherweight division.”