Champions score gear for Chatsworth boxing gym
TWO Chatsworth heavyweight boxers have scored points for their impoverished gym.
Jayden Matthew, 23, and Marc Subramoney, 24, both had their first professional fights last month. Their performances in the ring earned them the promise of training equipment courtesy of the provincial department of sports and recreation.
The department’s Rohini Naidoo said the fighters’ success at the tournament showed that Chatsworth was keen on developing the sport.
“The MEC, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha, is totally committed to boxing development. We want to make it clear that boxing is a priority sport.
“Boxing was once one of the most successful sports in the province, but over the years has seemed to dwindle. We want to pick it up and run with it from there.”
Both fighters won their first bouts at the Boxing South Africa KwaZulu-Natal tournament at the eThekwini Boxing Gym on April 28.
Matthew and Subramoney fought Sibonelo Wdlele and Corne Schoeman, respec- tively, and both won by knockout.
Thanks to their impressive performances, the department offered to provide the Chatsworth Youth Centre’s Boxing Academy with professional equipment such as punching bags, gloves and chest protectors for female boxers, as well as gum and groin guards.
“We are basically going to be giving them everything but the boxing ring,” said Naidoo.
The pair train at the academy, which was started in 2009 as a way to keep youngsters in the area off the streets and away from a life of crime. The gym is run by former boxers John Marigadu, Sydney Ngcobo and Derek Vijan.
Marigadu said the impact the pair had made during their short course and with little in the way of equipment was outstanding.
Most of the equipment the gym currently houses was brought in by the centre’s three coaches and bought from their own pockets.
“They make Chatsworth very proud. They are both so dedicated with their training,” said Marigadu.
“It just proves what we could do if we had a fully equipped gym. We could do extremely well on both the amateur and professional circuits. Hopefully, now this will be possible and these boys will inspire others in Chatsworth to take up the sport.”
Said Matthew: “It keeps us motivated to go further and do better and work harder.”