ONE of SA's Olympic boxing hopefuls is the daughter of Adriaan Heijns, mastermind of the infamous Kamp Staaldraad in 2003.

Claudia Heijns was in devastating form in Pretoria on Saturday night when most of the country's top amateurs engaged in warm-up bouts ahead of qualifying bids for the London Games.

Nine men head to Morocco for the African qualifying tournament later this month, while three female competitors will do battle at the women's world championships in China in May.

"It's always emotional," Heijns said after Claudia stopped Tsidi Msiya in their 75kg contest. "But it's her passion, I have to support her."

Asked if he'd like to see his daughter do the Staaldraad-type training the Boks were subjected to ahead of the 2003 World Cup, Heijns replied that it wouldn't work for individuals. "She trains really hard, twice a day, and is disciplined in terms of diet."

Her biggest challenge has been getting willing opponents. "She's sparring against men because women don't want to box her," said SA women's team manager Johan Prinsloo.

In attendance on Saturday was SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam, who has previously identified boxing as a potential source of silverware, although SA hasn't claimed a boxing medal at an Olympics since 1960.

Not all the SA boxers won their fights on Saturday. Sinethemba Bam was comprehensively outboxed in his 60kg contest by Jeffrey Maganane of the famous Booysens gym. Bam failed to win a round, losing 35-17.

Ranson Hobwana went down to Frank Rodrigues in their 75kg bout. "It happens," said Gift Pilane, SA's most experienced boxer, who won his 49kg bout against Nyiko Ndukula on points.