Surprise visit by Makabu uplifts fellow fighter
Mashitoa lost his son and fight in same period
Empathy is what WBC cruiserweight boxing world champion Ilunga “Junior” Makabu offered to Lebo Mashitoa when he surprised him with a visit at his workplace on Tuesday.
Mashitoa’s heart was broken and his soul was troubled when his two-month-old first born son passed away in January. His spirit was crushed in March when he was knocked out in three rounds in a non-title boxing match by Akani Phuzi.
Makabu can relate to Mashitoa’s situation. His fouryear-old son died in December, a month before his successful mandatory defence of his lucrative WBC belt against Thabiso Mchunu.
Makabu went to see Mashitoa at Drivetrain in Boksburg where the 26-yearold Gauteng cruiserweight champion works as an information technology specialist, to tell him that even the greatest fighters of all time faced challenges and adversity outside the square ring.
This writer was tipped off about the surprise visit by Makabu’s bosom friend Rick Rex, who has a cordial relationship with Mashitoa’s manager Colleen McAusland and the boxer’s promoter Shereen Hunter of Unleashed Combat Sport.
Mashitoa was summoned to the main boardroom of the automotive engineering company in Jet Park. His eyes popped when he saw the Congoleseborn gentle giant Makabu sitting on a chair.
‘Wow! Mr Makabu,” the boxer reacted as he showed respect for his fellow fighter.
“If this is a dream then I don’t want to wake up,” added a chuffed and teary-eyed Mashitoa as Makabu got up to hug him.
“I am here to offer you words of comfort for what happened to you,” Makabu said.
“I feel your pain of losing your son and also losing a boxing match [in the same period], which I think you should not have accepted because no title was at stake. My situation was different because I was mandated to defend the title.
“That is why I did not have interviews at all before the fight and the story that I shunned SA media is untrue. I was going through a lot. I cannot deny the SA media be
cause this country is my second home. My career began here and I met the love of my life – my wife – here.
“Look, if your soul is troubled there is nothing you can do. You can have all the skills and the big heart in the world but if you mind is not right then forget it,” added Makabu.
Makabu was ringside when Phuzi dropped Mashitoa three times before the fight was stopped.
“I am making a commitment today that I will assist you going forward,” Makabu told Mashitoa who sat quietly until the world champion finished talking.
An emotional Mashitoa said: “You inspire me and give me hope, ignite my imagination and instil the love and passion for boxing again. I am forever grateful for your surprise visit. Honestly, I was not ready mentally for the fight. It was still too soon but I will be back.”
His boss Andy Scott said: “I am amazed by his [Makabu’s] humility. You would never say he is one of the best in the world of boxing. We were honoured to have such a gentle giant in our establishment and I am also happy for Lebo to get motivation from such a wonderful champion.”