ICONIC boxing promoter Mzimasi Mnguni is fighting for his life at the Life Rehabilitation Centre in East London.
The 65-year-old's condition has deteriorated to such an extent that he cannot walk unassisted and is confined to a wheelchair.
The veteran manager - who spearheaded former boxer Welcome "The Hawk" Ncita's march to the IBF junior featherweight world title in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1990 - suffered a stroke in March and is paralysed from the waist down.
His memory has lapsed and he sometimes does not recognise even his closest allies. But despite his ill health, Mnguni was at East London's Orient Theatre on Sunday when his charge, IBO junior featherweight champion Thabo Sonjica, blew Toto Helebe away in less than a minute.
"Thabo [Sonjica] has become like a son to me, so I had to come and watch his fight," he said, wiping away a tear.
Mnguni said he became worried when Sonjica started crying and thought his presence ringside would affect his mental preparations.
"I thought he would be disturbed mentally but he handled the business well," Mnguni whispered.
Mnguni has never been the same since his Land Rover was involved in a horror car accident with a bakkie in November last year. The accident left two of the three occupants in the bakkie dead and Mnguni, who complained of chest pains, spent two weeks at St Dominic's Hospital in East London.
The promoter is also credited with guiding Ncita's successor, Vuyani "The Beast" Bungu, to a record 13 defences of the same IBF title.
The 47-year-old Bungu, who is now a successful trainer, was present at the tournament and he said he was shaken by Mnguni's appearance.
"It is touching to see Bra Mzi looking the way he does," he said.
"I did not know that he now looks like a quarter of the man he was. The last time I visited him in the hospital he looked okay. What has actually stopped me from visiting is that he cries a lot when he sees me and that affects me a lot."
Ncita, now a promoter, declined to comment.
Golden Gloves boss Rodney Berman, who promoted Mnguni's school of great fighters, said the veteran manager is still a part of his company.
"We could not have done it without him."
Boxing great Mnguni fights for his life
ICONIC boxing promoter Mzimasi Mnguni is fighting for his life at the Life Rehabilitation Centre in East London.
The 65-year-old's condition has deteriorated to such an extent that he cannot walk unassisted and is confined to a wheelchair.
The veteran manager - who spearheaded former boxer Welcome "The Hawk" Ncita's march to the IBF junior featherweight world title in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1990 - suffered a stroke in March and is paralysed from the waist down.
His memory has lapsed and he sometimes does not recognise even his closest allies. But despite his ill health, Mnguni was at East London's Orient Theatre on Sunday when his charge, IBO junior featherweight champion Thabo Sonjica, blew Toto Helebe away in less than a minute.
"Thabo [Sonjica] has become like a son to me, so I had to come and watch his fight," he said, wiping away a tear.
Mnguni said he became worried when Sonjica started crying and thought his presence ringside would affect his mental preparations.
"I thought he would be disturbed mentally but he handled the business well," Mnguni whispered.
Mnguni has never been the same since his Land Rover was involved in a horror car accident with a bakkie in November last year. The accident left two of the three occupants in the bakkie dead and Mnguni, who complained of chest pains, spent two weeks at St Dominic's Hospital in East London.
The promoter is also credited with guiding Ncita's successor, Vuyani "The Beast" Bungu, to a record 13 defences of the same IBF title.
The 47-year-old Bungu, who is now a successful trainer, was present at the tournament and he said he was shaken by Mnguni's appearance.
"It is touching to see Bra Mzi looking the way he does," he said.
"I did not know that he now looks like a quarter of the man he was. The last time I visited him in the hospital he looked okay. What has actually stopped me from visiting is that he cries a lot when he sees me and that affects me a lot."
Ncita, now a promoter, declined to comment.
Golden Gloves boss Rodney Berman, who promoted Mnguni's school of great fighters, said the veteran manager is still a part of his company.
"We could not have done it without him."
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