BLACK ex-boxers are sick and tired of being mentioned in passing when people talk about old-time greats from South Africa.
One fighter from the treasury of super fighters of yesteryear was Arthur "The Fighting Prince" Mayisela. He lit up the ring, simultaneously igniting fires in the hearts, minds and souls of oppressed black South Africans whenever he fought during the height of the apartheid years of the 1980s.
He died on September 17 1986 on the M2 highway under the wheels of a speeding car. He was 33 years old.
The survivors of those years will officially launch the Veteran Boxers Association next month. The decision was taken unanimously at their meeting at the CWJ Boxing Gym in Soweto on Sunday.
Assistant secretary Alfred Buqwana, who was known as "Kid Bassie" in his heyday, said the launch will take place on September 23 at a venue still to be confirmed.
"We will adopt a constitution and elect the office bearers," said the former Transvaal featherweight champion.
Buqwana graduated to being a celebrated international official but is yet to be recognised.
The man, who is the deputy of former Transvaal junior welterweight champion Jeffrey "Styles" Makune, added that one of their many objectives was to look after former fighters, managers, trainers, matchmakers and promoters.
"We want our dignity to be recognised, provide medication for those who are ailing and also look at ways and means of assisting a member when there is death in their family," he said.
To demonstrate their seriousness about looking after one another, they collected about R500 to be given to veteran trainer Norman "Hitachi" Hlabane, whose wife was buried on Saturday.
The association was formed last year and it comprises about 100 members.
Peter Ngatane is the chairperson and veteran promoter Obed Molekwa is the vice-president.
Black legends fight for place
BLACK ex-boxers are sick and tired of being mentioned in passing when people talk about old-time greats from South Africa.
One fighter from the treasury of super fighters of yesteryear was Arthur "The Fighting Prince" Mayisela. He lit up the ring, simultaneously igniting fires in the hearts, minds and souls of oppressed black South Africans whenever he fought during the height of the apartheid years of the 1980s.
He died on September 17 1986 on the M2 highway under the wheels of a speeding car. He was 33 years old.
The survivors of those years will officially launch the Veteran Boxers Association next month. The decision was taken unanimously at their meeting at the CWJ Boxing Gym in Soweto on Sunday.
Assistant secretary Alfred Buqwana, who was known as "Kid Bassie" in his heyday, said the launch will take place on September 23 at a venue still to be confirmed.
"We will adopt a constitution and elect the office bearers," said the former Transvaal featherweight champion.
Buqwana graduated to being a celebrated international official but is yet to be recognised.
The man, who is the deputy of former Transvaal junior welterweight champion Jeffrey "Styles" Makune, added that one of their many objectives was to look after former fighters, managers, trainers, matchmakers and promoters.
"We want our dignity to be recognised, provide medication for those who are ailing and also look at ways and means of assisting a member when there is death in their family," he said.
To demonstrate their seriousness about looking after one another, they collected about R500 to be given to veteran trainer Norman "Hitachi" Hlabane, whose wife was buried on Saturday.
The association was formed last year and it comprises about 100 members.
Peter Ngatane is the chairperson and veteran promoter Obed Molekwa is the vice-president.
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