Bay pledges R5m to punch boxing into shape

Boxing in the Nelson Mandela Bay area is set for a major revamp after the municipality budgeted R5m for its development over the next three years.

This was revealed by mayor Nqaba Bhanga, who emphasised that the initiative was meant to “punch the sport back into shape”.

The Bay area is renowned for producing talented boxers such as former SA junior welterweight champion Phumzile Madikane, former SA junior-flyweight champion and world title contender Vuyani Nene, late former IBO flyweight champion Mzukisi Sikali, former IBF world mini-flyweight champion Zolani Petelo, former WBU mini-flyweight champion Lindi Memani and former SA welterweight champion Linda Nondzaba.

However, the sport has dwindled alarmingly in the metro, with its talented boxers opting to seek greener pastures in other regions such as Gauteng and the Western Cape.

But this is all set to change after Bhanga committed to unearthing and nurturing talent by entering into a partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay Promoters’ Association.

Bhanga said legends such as Madikane and Nene would be absorbed into the Bay’s sport directorate to ease their struggle since they had retired from the sport.

“Nelson Mandela Bay was once a hub of boxing in the province and the country at large, hence the mayoral committee took the decision to revive the sport,” he said.

“Boxers such as Madikane and Nene are legends of the region hence I have taken a decision to attach them to the directorate of sport to make sure that they nurture new talent.

“We will use them to help with boxing development and groom more boxers in the city.”

The partnership between the metro and promoters comes after a two-day boxing indaba in March to deliberate on the revival of the sport.

The R5m investment will kick in for the 2020-2023 financial years.

The decision to absorb Madikane and Nene, who have fallen on hard times since they retired from boxing, into a metro directorate is expected to finally lay to rest complaints that former boxers were only used as pawns to solicit funding from the municipality.

Nene complained bitterly when his name was used to promote a boxing tournament in the area without his consent.

The Bay has also produced a number of amateur boxers who represented SA at several international championships.

Boxers such as Siyabulela Mpongoshe and Unathi

Jacobs were regular features in the SA Boxing Amateur team competing in international events.

The association’s deputy chair, David Faas, hailed the move and described it as a catalyst in reviving the sleeping boxing giant.

“We are happy with this initiative by the mayor because we have been crying for help,” he said.

“Now our tears will be wiped away and children from the Bay can have their talent maximised, all thanks to this initiative.”