‘King’ of ring was a true pioneer

REMINGTON “Carolado King” Dyantyi, who died this week, was a pioneer of Eastern Cape boxing.

While a lot of people know so much about the evolution of boxing in the EC, few know about the local pugilist from rural Alice who achieved plenty as a boxer.

While professional boxing in the Border-Kei region of what was then known as Cape Province started only in 1965, Dyantyi had his first professional fight as early as 1963.

Dyantyi started his career in Cape Town against Patterson Maputu. He had three more fights in Cape Town before he was billed closer home in Port Elizabeth for his fifth fight in 1965.

He had won four fights and lost one when he was spotted by an overseas scout and was lured to Italy to further his career. He engaged in five fights in Italy before heading back home to challenge reigning SA black heavyweight champion, Ezrom Ngcobo.

He beat Ngcobo over 12 rounds to become the first professional boxer as well as first SA champion to come from what was later to be recognised as the Mecca of Boxing.

Interestingly one of his opponents in Italy was Leotis Martin, who would later beat legendary former world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston, of the historic Muhammad Ali controversies.

At the time of his retirement in 1972 he had compiled a record of 24 fights, 13 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw.

A call was made in the Daily Dispatch article for the Amathole District, where he lived, to honour this hero.

Hopefully this call will still be fulfilled even in his death.

Dyantyi will be buried next Saturday at Binfield in Alice.

Meanwhile the funeral service of featherweight boxer Simpiwe Mayeza will be held in Ilitha tomorrow.

Also amateur boxer Siphendulwe Qumrha, who also died this week, will be buried tomorrow at his NU9 home in Mdantsane. —