Mbali "Don Queen" Zantsi of Zantsi's Showtime Boxing Promotion was in tears when she relived the memories of her journey as a female boxing promoter, ahead of her 10th anniversary tournament on Friday night.

She staged her ground-breaking female tournament in Durban in 2007. It featured fighters from Brazil against Noni "She Bee Stingin" Tenge and Unathi "African Queen" Myekeni.

Tenge and Myekeni defeated Brazilians Juliana de Aguiar and Michelle Larissa Bonasolli, while Klaas lost to Sandra Almeida.

Said Zantsi: "It has been a long, winding, painful, educative yet successful journey. I just cannot believe that I am celebrating 10 years as a boxing promoter. I could not have achieved all that alone.

"Some men have been wonderful while others seemed scared of the competition from a woman, but all in all it was a journey worth travelling."

Her hard work and dedication earned her accolades in and outside the country, including the induction to the GSport Hall of Fame after being voted 2009 Woman of the Year.

In 2015 she also scooped the WBF Best Promoter of the Year and also earned BSA's Chairperson Award in January. Her tournament on Friday will take place at the Kagiso Recreation and Memorial Centre on the West Rand.

Tenge will top the bill with the defence of her WBF junior middleweight belt against Almeida, while Myekeni and Asandiswa Nxokwana will oppose each other for a vacant WBF featherweight title.

Ndobayini Kolosa will put her SA lightweight belt on line against Mashudu Ramukela.

Smangele Hadebe and Babalwa Nqondelwana will fight for a vacant SA bantamweight title. There will also be three under-card fights.