William Gare was dismissed as a washed up fighter whose highest honour would be the national title.
William Gare was dismissed as a washed up fighter whose highest honour would be the national title.
Then along came successful Free State businessman Blacky Seoe who became a boxing promoter. He signed Gare among a long list of fighters that included Bongani Mwelase.
Seoe told Gare in no uncertain terms to quit whatever day job he was doing and focus on his career as a fighter.
He said: "I will pay you a monthly salary."
Seoe, an enigma then, made it easy for Gare to travel to Malvern where the gym of Johnny du Plooy is situated - he bought him a top-of-the-range Mercedes Benz C-Class.
The care he gets from Seoe has enabled him to focus on what he does best, boxing.
Gare, like many local fighters, could have retired without reaching his full potential.
He was used as cannon fodder by promoters outside South Africa, failing to win the WBU, WBF (twice), WBC International and the WBA Inter-Continental belts.
Gare then signed with Seoe a few months after winning the South African title from Peter Mashamaite. He warned people would see a completely changed fighter now that he had a promoter with his interests at heart.
Gare blasted Maselino Masoe in four rounds to win the WBF belt in February. He went on to defend it with aplomb against Les Sherrington in May. Last Friday Gare put on an exhibition when he overwhelmed Jindrick Velecky, from the Czech Republic, with skill, finesse and experience, only lacking power.
Gare can trouble Denis Inkin (WBO), Lucian Bute (IBF) and Joe Calzaghe (WBA). He is maturing like fine wine. But it's the partnership with Seoe which deserves credit. Could we get more Seoes to uplift the sport, restore lost pride and give hope to the future?
Boxing needs more Seoes
William Gare was dismissed as a washed up fighter whose highest honour would be the national title.
William Gare was dismissed as a washed up fighter whose highest honour would be the national title.
Then along came successful Free State businessman Blacky Seoe who became a boxing promoter. He signed Gare among a long list of fighters that included Bongani Mwelase.
Seoe told Gare in no uncertain terms to quit whatever day job he was doing and focus on his career as a fighter.
He said: "I will pay you a monthly salary."
Seoe, an enigma then, made it easy for Gare to travel to Malvern where the gym of Johnny du Plooy is situated - he bought him a top-of-the-range Mercedes Benz C-Class.
The care he gets from Seoe has enabled him to focus on what he does best, boxing.
Gare, like many local fighters, could have retired without reaching his full potential.
He was used as cannon fodder by promoters outside South Africa, failing to win the WBU, WBF (twice), WBC International and the WBA Inter-Continental belts.
Gare then signed with Seoe a few months after winning the South African title from Peter Mashamaite. He warned people would see a completely changed fighter now that he had a promoter with his interests at heart.
Gare blasted Maselino Masoe in four rounds to win the WBF belt in February. He went on to defend it with aplomb against Les Sherrington in May. Last Friday Gare put on an exhibition when he overwhelmed Jindrick Velecky, from the Czech Republic, with skill, finesse and experience, only lacking power.
Gare can trouble Denis Inkin (WBO), Lucian Bute (IBF) and Joe Calzaghe (WBA). He is maturing like fine wine. But it's the partnership with Seoe which deserves credit. Could we get more Seoes to uplift the sport, restore lost pride and give hope to the future?