IT'S A WRAP: the boxing round-up for 2023

There have been a limited number of International tournaments during the year because of the cost of the rand against the dollar and the British pound, with the result that most of the imported fighters have been from Thailand because it is more economical for local promoters.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

The two standout fighters of the year were Ricardo Malajika who claimed the vacant IBO junior bantamweight title and Kevin Lerena who won the interim WBC bridgerweight title.

PROMOTERS

Among the promoters who staged tournaments despite the high financial cost of the rand against the dollar and pound, were Golden Gloves Promotions – Rodney Berman, Xaba Promotions –Ayanda Matiti, Joyce Kungwana – TLB Boxing and Shereen Hunter of Unleased Combat Sport

AWARDS

Boxer of the Year: Kevin Lerena who despite going into the ring with an injury won a WBC title and the former talented amateur Ricardo Malajika who claimed the vacant IBO junior bantamweight title.

Fight of the Year: Roarke Knapp who once again produced exciting action for the fans and scored victories over Przemyslaw Zysk (tko5) and Ahmed El Moussaoui (pts 12).

Prospect of the Year: Lightweight Kaine Fourie 6-0-2 (4) in only his sixth professional fight stopped the vastly more experienced former South African and IBO champion Lusanda Komanisi (27-7).

Upset and most disappointing Performance of the Year: The previously unbeaten Sivenathi Nontshinga lost his IBF junior flyweight title on a second-round knockout against Adrian Curiel in Monte Carlo, at 1 minute and 9 seconds into the round.

Saddest moment of the Year: Ludumo Lamati losing on a 12th-round knockout against Nick Ball in Belfast on 23 May, and collapsed in his corner before being taken to hospital. However, he returned to South Africa after a period in the hospital but will never box again.

Trainer of the Year: Vuzi Mtolo from the RUB Gym in Edenvale.

Best fight venue: Emperors Palace near Kempton Park and the East London International Convention Centre both of which always create a tremendous vibe.

Manager of the Year: Brian Mitchell.

Knockout of the Year: Junior lightweight, Bongani Mahlangu for winning on a fifth-round knockout against Mduduzi Mzimele at Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

Media: SuperSport once again made it possible for boxing enthusiasts in South Africa and the rest of Africa to watch live television coverage with the screening of local fights and world title matches from overseas, as well as repeat broadcasts, of SA tournaments and fights abroad.

The SuperSport boxing website continued to report on boxing in South Africa and the rest of the world and included many interesting features on the lives of local and foreign fighters. In the region of 118 plus items were placed on the site.

Boxing writer Bongani Magasela from The Sowetan once again continued to keep boxing alive in reporting on the sport and so did Mesuli Zifo of the Daily Dispatch.

The “YouTube's”, Droeks Malan did a great job reporting on, and previewing fights and Andre DeVries who continued to update fighters' records in South Africa.

Ring officials

Deon Dwarte from Cape Town who has continued to perform at a high level.

BOXING SA BOARD

It is with a positive outlook that we welcome the appointments on the Boxing SA Board. The term of the new board members comprising Chairman Sfiso Shongwe, and board members Sakhiwo Sodo, Romy Titus, Luxolo September, Nande Mpshe, Princess Nongoma and Marry Sitati, will expire on December 11, 2026.

SOUTH AFRICAN BOXERS IN INTERNATIONAL FIGHTS

Featherweight: Ludumo Lamati L TKO in round 12 against Nick Ball, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Middleweight: Gauteng champion Donjuan "The Iron Dragon" van Heerden lost on a unanimous ten-round point decision against Ismael Seck at the Palais des Sports Cahors (France), for the IBO Continental middleweight title with scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94.

RESULTS OF ALL SA TITLE FIGHTS IN 2023

Heavyweight: 18 March - Keaton Gomes W rsf 4 Joshua Pretorius, Kempton Park.

Junior heavyweight: Nil

Light heavyweight: Nil

Super middleweight: Nil

Middleweight: 23 March – John Bopape W tko 1 Ayanda Mthembu, Ladysmith.

Junior middleweight: 18 March - Shervantaigh Koopman W rsf 8 Jackson Kaptein, Kempton Park.

2 Sept – Shervantaigh Koopman – W tko 9 Brandon Thysse, Kempton Park.

Welterweight: Nil

Junior Welterweight: Nil

Lightweight: 31 March -Khaya Busakwe W tko 3 Lusanda Kominisi, East London.

23 June – Khaya Busakwe W pts 12 Ayanda Nkosi. Polokwane.

Junior lightweight: 23 April – Bongani Mahlangu W ko 5 Mduduzi Mzimele, Auckland Park.

Featherweight: 25 August - Abdulaziz Kunert D 12 Zolisa Batyi, Belville

Junior featherweight: Nil

Bantamweight: Nil

Junior bantamweight: Nil

Flyweight: Nil

Junior flyweight: 31 March - Mpumelelo Tshabalala W rsf 6 Athenkosi Thongwana, East London.

Minimumweight: 2 July- Siyakholwa Kuse W pts 12 Bangile Nyangani, East London.

SA BOXERS IN 'WORLD' TITLE FIGHTS IN 2023

Minimumweight: nil

Light flyweight: 2 July – Sivenahi Nontshinga W pts 12 Regie Suganob (IBF title), East London.

4 November - Sivenathi Nontshinga L ko 2 Adrian Curiel (IBF title), Monte Carlo.

Flyweight: nil

Junior bantamweight: 2 September – Ricardo Malajika W pts 12 Kevin Luis Munoz (vacant IBO title), Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.

Bantamweight: nil

Junior featherweight: nil

Featherweight: nil

Junior lightweight: nil

Cruiserweight: nil

Bridgerweight: 25 November – Kevin Lerena W pts 12 Senad Gashi (WBC interim title) Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.

Heavyweight: Nil

NEW BOOK BY LOVEMORE NDOU

It has been reported that South Africa’s Lovemore Ndou who became a three-time world champion and now resides in Sydney, Australia, and is a qualified lawyer with no less than seven university degrees, will launch the new edition of his memoir “Tough Love”

LAST BELL

Mfusi Maxhayi, Rhoan Gardiner, Sakkie Enslin, Ronald Malindi.