Innovation, the practical implementation of ideas that result in the introduction of new goods or services, is required in SA to spice up the sport of boxing.

This fisticuffs sport needs to be exciting to bring fans back. Great minds need to come together and think out of the box by introducing something new during boxing matches.

This country has done that before, bringing 5,000 people from sport, radio, entertainment, business and politics together at Carnival City in 2006 where 30 of the hottest celebrities displayed their mental and athletics prowess in the boxing ring.

That was after trainer Nick Durandt and his friends had come up with the Celebrity Boxing Challenge. The likes of Tumisho Masha, Tselane Tambo, Katlego Danke, Lorcia Cooper, Emmanuel Castis, Mark Batchelor, Clint Weston, Pat Cash, Joe Parker and yours truly were trained by Durandt, his assistant Kenny Mabunda, professional boxers Silence Mabuza, Hawk Makepula, Vincent Vuma, Sam Malinga and others.

Each bout consisted of three two-minutes rounds with one-minute breaks. Money from the sale of tickets, which ranged in price from R36 to R106, depending on the seating at the Big Top Arena, was donated to the Variety “Water for Schools” project in Limpopo.

Today, countries like the US are going big with celebrity fights. Floyd Mayweather Junior and social media personality Logan Paul will exchange blows in an exhibition bout at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida on June 6.

Pressed for comment on such innovations, BSA’s acting CEO Cindy Nkomo said: “We are still looking at our sport as boxing when it has gone beyond that. We must all look at how best to attract sponsors and introduce new fans into boxing. In fact, this idea must be taken to the board of BSA to look at. Involving one or two celebrities in our tournaments will not be a bad idea.”

Boxing almost benefited from the beef between rappers Cassper Nyovest and AKA, who challenged Cassper to a fist fight in March last year but the fight has not happened.

Imagine super match-ups between Dingaan Thobela and Brian Mitchell, Andre Thysse and Tshele Kometsi, Connie Ferguson and Nkomo, Colin Nathan and Mzamo Njekanye, Koena Moabelo and Thabiso Mosea, Bareng-Batho Kortjaas and Robert Marawa, Sipho Mashego and Thomas Mlambo, and Andile Ncube and Phumlani Msibi, whose participation in a tournament could revive the sport in terms of mileage and attention.