Final bell for Manyathi

Passes away after long illness

Controversial Eastern Cape boxing promoter Joe Manyathi has died.

His son Sipho told Sowetan that his father, who was sick for a long time, died around 12 noon.

“I picked up when I spoke to him on Tuesday  that he was not okay. I then received a call today (Wednesday) that he died around 12 noon,” said Sipho, who is based at Bramfischer near Dobsonville in Soweto.

Joe, who was affectionately known as “Master Key”, had a hoard of friends including esteemed American trainer Emmanuel Steward and Lennox Lewis.

Manyathi's health deteriorated after his failure to organise a fight for Laila Ali in 2006 to honour Nelson Mandela and celebrate Women's Month.

Manyathi shook the boxing world in 2001 when he said he had been given the go-ahead to organise Lennox Lewis's fight against Mike Tyson in Johannesburg. That fight also never took place.

But otherwise he made an invaluable contribution to the development of boxing.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalised.

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