Pioneering ‘ Schoolboy ’ passes on

SOUTH African boxing legend Enoch “Schoolboy ” Nhlapo will be buried at Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg, tomorrow.

Also known as “Sgegede”, Nhlapo passed away at the weekend after a short illness, aged 80 years.

He was a pioneering SA non-white ( when black and white boxers were not allowed to fight each other because of apartheid) lightweight, junior-welterweight and welterweight champion.

Nhlapo, who grew up in Western Native Township near Sophiatown, Johannesburg, turned professional in 1953. He went on to win the Transvaal featherweight title in his fifth fight.

Nhlapo added the SA lightweight title on December 12 1958 after defeating Joas “Kangaroo ” Maoto.

He failed to win the welterweight belt from Joe “Axe Killer” Ngidi in 1964 but held on to his lightweight belt, which he defended successfully a number of times until he lost it to Maoto on May 7 1965.

Nhlapo regained that belt, which was then held by Levi “Golden Boy” Madi but lost it to Richard “Kid” Borias on February 4 1967.

Nhlapo reclaimed the belt from Borias when they met again two months later but subsequently lost it to Anthony “Blue Jaguar” Morodi on February 7, 1970. He won the welterweight belt in his last fight against Mackeed Mofokeng on February 17 1973.