VICTORIA Mxenge Hall in Umlazi, south of Durban, is the venue for the Ludonga Boxing Promotions tournament, which is part of Nelson Mandela's 81st birthday celebrations.

VICTORIA Mxenge Hall in Umlazi, south of Durban, is the venue for the Ludonga Boxing Promotions tournament, which is part of Nelson Mandela's 81st birthday celebrations.

The tournament will be staged on July 18, the same date as Mandela's birthday.

Griffiths Mxenge, the human rights lawyer and activist, vigorously defended ANC comrades during the dark days of apartheid.

Security police from Vlakplaas near Pretoria abducted, stabbed and murdered him at Umlazi in November 1981. His wife Victoria Mxenge was assassinated in 1985.

Promoter Thulani Magudulela and Godfrey Sangweni, who is chief director of sports in KwaZulu-Natal, saw the venue as appropriate for their joint promotion boxing event.

They believe the venue will fit in perfectly with Mandela's birthday celebrations.

Mandela was an aspirant amateur boxer.

Topping the bill will be a 10-rounder between Sicelo Mzobe from Umlazi and Amon Baloyi from Limpopo. Magudulela described it as an SA welterweight title eliminator, which means that the winner will get the right to challenge champion Chris van Heerden.

But it remains to be seen if he will hold his title tomorrow night against Boitshepo Mandawe. Magudulela said two of the remaining nine bouts would be contested over six rounds. They pit Xolani Mvubu and Simphiwe Mthethwa against Mzonjana Majola and Sibusiso Gumede in the junior middle and junior featherweight divisions respectively.