Alby Tissong dies at 87

SOUTH Africa's unsung boxing hero, Alby Tissong, has died.

Mike Tissong announced yesterday that his father, one of the first non-white South African featherweight champions and greatest coloured pugilist of all time, died of natural causes at Helen Joseph Hospital, Joburg, yesterday morning.

"The doctor said his heart slowed down until it stopped. He was not ill, but his body was getting weaker," said Tissong jnr, a former amateur boxer.

Tissong snr, who confidently flew the South African flag around the globe as a fighter, was 87.

After relocating to the U K , he chalked up wins against Don McTaggart, Bernard Pugh and Denny Dawson before losing to Al Browne in the British Empire title elimination bout on August 20 1953. He never got to fight for a world championship, because of apartheid.

"The older generation told me that my dad was a very good fighter. When I met Nelson Mandela, he asked me if I knew Alby. And when I told him that he is my dad, Mandela said 'Alby was my hero'," Tissong said.

"For Mandela to remember my dad after. 50 years, says a lot about his capability as a boxer.

"He fought all over the world, especially in the UK. What amazes me when I look at his fight record is the extensive travelling.

"His death is a sad loss to the family and boxing fraternity."

The funeral arrangements will be announced soon.

Loyiso Mtya, Boxing South Africa's acting chief executive, described Tissong's passing as a sad loss to all. "This happens at this point where we are faced by the dearth of coloured boxers."

Veteran administrator Stanley Sono said: "Alby was so good that he won most of his fights with knock-outs. What a pity apartheid prevented black fighters to fight for world titles. Alby would have easily won a championship."