One of the most courageous SA champions

One of the most courageous boxers to step into the ring was Danny Myburgh, an outstanding amateur who would go on to win the South African lightweight title as a professional.

Born Daniel Johannes Myburgh on 9 August 1965 in Vryheid, Northern Natal, as an amateur he won the three South African junior welterweight championships in 1984, 1985, and 1986, and was awarded Springbok colours, and a number of other awards, including Vryheid Sportsman of the Year, his birth town.

After his successful amateur career he made his pro debut on 27 July 1987 fighting to a four-round draw against Desmond Mahlelwe at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg.

He won his next four fights in style before fighting to a draw over six rounds against Frederick “Gorilla” Siswana who would subsequently go on to win the South African welterweight title.

Putting this hiccup behind him he scored victories over Jacob Mokgotla and Trevor Singh before winning on a fine ten-round points victory over Patrick Mpamba for the Transvaal junior welterweight title at the Don Mateman Hall in Eldorado Park.

In his next fight he lost the Transvaal title to Mbulelo Ndlazi on a seventh technical knockout and after scoring a victory over Alson Nkosi he was stopped in the fourth round by David Potsane, a future South Africa welterweight and junior middleweight champion.

After this setback he won two and fought to a draw, and won his next two fights before scoring a first-round stoppage win over Coleman Molefe in a clash for the vacant Transvaal junior welterweight title.

Danny won his next three fights before going in against Grant Messias (14-3-1) at Sun City on 27 July 1991, who took a beating for seven rounds before landing a perfect right cross to win on an eighth-round technical knockout at 34 seconds into the round.

On 9 June 1992 he dropped down in weight and challenged the vastly experienced Aladin Stevens (43-6-6) for the South African lightweight title at the Carousel Casino in Hammanskraal.

Myburgh won the fight on a split decision, which was highly controversial at the time, with judges Abri Schutte and Wally Snowball scoring the fight 116-114 and 115-114 in favour of Myburgh and judge Alfred Buqwana handed in a card of 116-114 in favour of Stevens.

According to reports, Stevens landed with the cleaner and crispy shots throughout and scored a knockdown in the last round.

Putting the controversy behind him Danny won against Jumo Kutondo (tko 7) and then travelled to London where he went in against Michael Ayers (12-0) in a clash for the WBC International lightweight title, losing on fifth round technical knockout.

On his return to South Africa he made successful defences of the South African lightweight title against Edward Mogemi (pts 12), Mbeko Dayile (tko 11) and Bongani Shezi (rtd 12).

After these successful defences he met Phillip Holiday (21-0) in a non-title fight on 20 August 1994 at the Carousel Casino in Hammanskraal, on the undercard of the night that South Africa’s Vuyani Bungu won the IBF junior featherweight title against former Olympic gold medallist Kennedy McKinney.

Holiday (21-0), who would go on to an outstanding career winning the IBF lightweight title, completely outclassed Myburgh who was off balance and missing badly.

However, Holiday dropped Myburgh with what appeared to be a low blow just before the bell in the fourth round, with Myburgh complaining to the referee Alfred Buqwana, who ignored his pleas and told him to get up.

Coming out for the fifth round Myburgh had nothing left and was dropped with another border line blow for the referee to count him out on his knees.

On 9 April 1995 at the Iscor Sports Recreation Club Hall in Vanderbijlpark Danny went in against Mbeko Dayile in a return match for the South African lightweight title.

East London’s Dayile (16-2) became the new South African lightweight champion when he scored a seventh-round technical knockout.

Dayile completely dominated the fight against the courageous champion, who was too tough for his own good, and when Myburgh received a cut over his right eye after an accidental clash of heads he failed to come out at the bell for the seventh round.

Myburgh was one of the most courageous fighters to grace the South African ring and to hold a South African title, and was a credit to the game.

This proved to be his last fight as he finished with a record of 21-7-4; 10.

However, Danny, who lives in Pretoria, could not stay away from boxing and has done a magnificent job of arranging a reunion of old fighters in Koedoespoort, Pretoria, with the first function attracting 350 former fighters.

He is at present organising another reunion to take place in early October.