Boxing manager Butityi Konki's undertaking to protect boxers from their virtual enslavement is to be admired.
Boxing manager Butityi Konki's undertaking to protect boxers from their virtual enslavement is to be admired.
There was once a time when young boys grew up wanting to be like gladiators such as Arthur Mayisela, Johnny du Plooy and Dingaan Thobela.
In impoverished areas, the sport did not need much in the form of facilities. All you needed was a big heart, a friend to help lace up your gloves and you were in business.
But the exploitation by big players in the sport remained rife. Star boxers, some with insufficient education, retired penniless after many years.
Konki's proposal may sound revolutionary, but is long overdue. For boxers to be locked to promoters regardless of whether they are able to arrange fights for them is no better than modern day slavery. It needs to be knocked out of the sport.
Knock it out
Boxing manager Butityi Konki's undertaking to protect boxers from their virtual enslavement is to be admired.
Boxing manager Butityi Konki's undertaking to protect boxers from their virtual enslavement is to be admired.
There was once a time when young boys grew up wanting to be like gladiators such as Arthur Mayisela, Johnny du Plooy and Dingaan Thobela.
In impoverished areas, the sport did not need much in the form of facilities. All you needed was a big heart, a friend to help lace up your gloves and you were in business.
But the exploitation by big players in the sport remained rife. Star boxers, some with insufficient education, retired penniless after many years.
Konki's proposal may sound revolutionary, but is long overdue. For boxers to be locked to promoters regardless of whether they are able to arrange fights for them is no better than modern day slavery. It needs to be knocked out of the sport.