EIGHT of the more than 550 registered SA boxers won "world" titles in 2011. And nearly 70 tournaments were held during the year. But the picture of professional boxing in South Africa is a little less rosy than it seems.
Of the eight versions of world titles won by South African fighters, only Takalani Ndlovu's IBF junior featherweight belt is recognised internationally.
Ndlovu won the title when he outpointed Steve Molitor of Canada.
After last year's 77, only 69 tournaments were presented around the country in 2011. Most were in Gauteng (24) and the Eastern Cape (18). A total of 26 SA title fights took place; one more than last year.
Among the landmark bouts for SA boxers in 2011 were:
In January, Gideon Buthelezi outpointed Hekkie Budler to take the IBO junior flyweight belt. But he forfeited the belt when he challenged Adrian Hernandez for the WBC junior flyweight belt in September.
In March, Tshifhiwa Munyai won the vacant IBO super-bantamweight belt when he outpointed Danilo Pena from the Philippines.
Thomas Oosthuizen won the vacant IBO super-middleweight belt when he stopped Evert Bravo in the ninth round. He has now made three successful defences.
In September, Hekkie Budler dropped to strawweight and won the vacant IBO belt in a clash with Filipino Michael Landero.
On the same night, in a bout that should be a contender for the SA fight of the year award, Chris van Heerden edged Kaizer Mabuza to win the vacant IBO welterweight belt.
Ali Funeka and Malcolm Klassen returned after being out of action for 20 and 27 months, respectively, to win vacant WBF belts.
At the end of the year, 10 SA fighters could claim to hold a belt awarded by one of the "world organisations".
They are Lubabalo Msuthu (WBF bantamweight), Moruti Mthalane (IBF flyweight), Nkosinathi Joyi (IBF mini-flyweight), Budler (IBO strawweight ), Ndlovu (IBF junior featherweight), Oosthuizen (IBO super-middleweight), Munyai (IBO junior featherweight), Klassen (WBF junior lightweight), Funeka (WBF junior welterweight) and Van Heerden (IBO welterweight).
Of these, only Joyi (No 1), Oosthuizen (No 7), Ndlovu (No 5) and Mthalane (No 2) are ranked by the The Ring magazine.
Among the SA boxers who impressed during 2011 were Van Heerden and Minyakha Sityatha. But at the end of the year, the standout fighters were Ndlovu and Mthalane.
Despite an apparent downturn in the popularity of the sport, the promoters staged 26 SA title fights during the year and SA boxers fought in 21 "world" title fights.
Because Thabiso Mchunu relinquished his national title and moved up to heavyweight, no SA junior heavyweight title fight took place.
The standard of boxing in some national title fights was also well below par.
Boxing picture still less rosy
EIGHT of the more than 550 registered SA boxers won "world" titles in 2011. And nearly 70 tournaments were held during the year. But the picture of professional boxing in South Africa is a little less rosy than it seems.
Of the eight versions of world titles won by South African fighters, only Takalani Ndlovu's IBF junior featherweight belt is recognised internationally.
Ndlovu won the title when he outpointed Steve Molitor of Canada.
After last year's 77, only 69 tournaments were presented around the country in 2011. Most were in Gauteng (24) and the Eastern Cape (18). A total of 26 SA title fights took place; one more than last year.
Among the landmark bouts for SA boxers in 2011 were:
In January, Gideon Buthelezi outpointed Hekkie Budler to take the IBO junior flyweight belt. But he forfeited the belt when he challenged Adrian Hernandez for the WBC junior flyweight belt in September.
In March, Tshifhiwa Munyai won the vacant IBO super-bantamweight belt when he outpointed Danilo Pena from the Philippines.
Thomas Oosthuizen won the vacant IBO super-middleweight belt when he stopped Evert Bravo in the ninth round. He has now made three successful defences.
In September, Hekkie Budler dropped to strawweight and won the vacant IBO belt in a clash with Filipino Michael Landero.
On the same night, in a bout that should be a contender for the SA fight of the year award, Chris van Heerden edged Kaizer Mabuza to win the vacant IBO welterweight belt.
Ali Funeka and Malcolm Klassen returned after being out of action for 20 and 27 months, respectively, to win vacant WBF belts.
At the end of the year, 10 SA fighters could claim to hold a belt awarded by one of the "world organisations".
They are Lubabalo Msuthu (WBF bantamweight), Moruti Mthalane (IBF flyweight), Nkosinathi Joyi (IBF mini-flyweight), Budler (IBO strawweight ), Ndlovu (IBF junior featherweight), Oosthuizen (IBO super-middleweight), Munyai (IBO junior featherweight), Klassen (WBF junior lightweight), Funeka (WBF junior welterweight) and Van Heerden (IBO welterweight).
Of these, only Joyi (No 1), Oosthuizen (No 7), Ndlovu (No 5) and Mthalane (No 2) are ranked by the The Ring magazine.
Among the SA boxers who impressed during 2011 were Van Heerden and Minyakha Sityatha. But at the end of the year, the standout fighters were Ndlovu and Mthalane.
Despite an apparent downturn in the popularity of the sport, the promoters staged 26 SA title fights during the year and SA boxers fought in 21 "world" title fights.
Because Thabiso Mchunu relinquished his national title and moved up to heavyweight, no SA junior heavyweight title fight took place.
The standard of boxing in some national title fights was also well below par.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos