BUDDING boxing manager Mboneni Dlamini will be Free State Premier Ace Magashule's guest of honour when he delivers his state of the province address in Bloemfontein tomorrow.

BUDDING boxing manager Mboneni Dlamini will be Free State Premier Ace Magashule's guest of honour when he delivers his state of the province address in Bloemfontein tomorrow.

This gesture by Magashule underlines the admiration he had for Mboneni's son, the late Mlungisi "Killer Shark" Dlamini.

Mlungisi, from Esikhawini in KwaZulu-Natal, thrilled fight fans with his fists in four defences of his WBF belt in the Free State. Magashule was at the ringside for those fights.

Mlungisi, a charismatic and fearless 28-year-old warrior, fought under Free State boxing promoter Blacky Seoe's Robs Promotion company.

He died in the QwaQwa Hospital on January 30 after a car crash in Harrismith the previous night.

Janet Kaye, chief of staff in the premier's office, confirmed yesterday that Mboneni had been invited by the premier.

"The premier wants to acknowledge Mlungisi, support ing his father in memory of his late son," she said.

Mboneni said: "This will be an honour for my son whose spirit, I believe, will be with us."

Mlungisi's funeral was attended by Johannes Khambule, head of the Free State's sports department, Boxing SA chairperson Peter Ngatane, boxing manager Mzimasi Mnguni, Dingaan Thobela and Elijah "Tap Tap" Makha- thini, among other dignitaries.