Limpopo boxing cries out for help

Muvhuso "Hands of Thunder" Nedzanani

It was  a pleasure last week to see the determination with which Jeffrey “Mongoose” Mathebula approached his world title challenge against Takalani Ndlovu. Though he won by a split decision it was still enough to see him eventually win a credible world crown – the IBF junior-featherweight belt.

While Soweto-born Ndlovu enjoyed better pickings in the past decade, thanks to his dedication and disciplined approach to the game, the more talented Mathebula drifted from one disappointment to another with a largely lateral progress in his career. In a nutshell, Mathebula has himself to blame for delayed rewards, all for his misplaced overconfidence and gimmickry.

I still cannot come over the ridicule he made of boxing seven years ago in Phokeng, Rustenburg, when he and his Malamulele homeboy Oscar Chauke chatted, laughed and hugged each other through their scheduled six-rounder. Mathebula won the sham of a fight on points and, even more scandalous, the boxing authorities did not institute disciplinary action against the two boxers.

That was seven years ago and many boxers who had not turned professional by that time have since gone on to become world champions. That should speak volumes about how long Mongoose wandered in the wilderness before he could be a world champ. It is ironic that he earned the right to challenge Ndlovu by beating Chauke again in the official eliminator. I missed that bout last June, so I don’t know if the match reflected any change of attitude from the fuss of 15 April 2005 in the North West province.

Personally I hope Mathebula’s victory will restore the prestige of Limpopo boxing, which enjoyed rich pickings in the last decade. Boxers from Thohoyandou, Malamulele and Phalaborwa dominated most  boxing divisions.  One of these was Muvhuso "Fists of Thunder" Nedzanani, who in 2005 reached the climax of his career defending the SA junior-flyweight four times – two KOs and two unanimous decisions – against credible challengers such as Sizwe Sinyabi, Mfundo Gwayana and Vuyani Kheswa.

The four fights where thrillers and underscored Nedzanani's growing stature in local boxing. The downside however was that Boxing SA gave the boxer of the year award for 2005 to Isaac Hlatshwayo, who too was a worthy contender from Limpopo.  Nedzanani fought well for another four years, but getting by by winning peripheral championships, including the WBF “world title”.

But after stopping Ramadhan Mkufi in the third of their scheduled 12 round fight for WBO Africa title, the bookish Nedzanani drifted away from the sport and kept himself busy in the academia. I missed him, especially his warm personality and pragmatism. So you would understand my excitement about his comeback, tomorrow against Zolani Tete.  The fight takes place at the Orient Theatre, a popular boxing venue where in 2005 Nedzanani dominated Sizwe Sinyabi, who held on for dear life for 12 rounds.

Like his opponent, Tete is also a former WBF title holder, at flyweight level. He fought twice last year, winning once and losing his last fight under controversial circumstances in Mexico, in November. Though it’s a non-title bout, the match-up has the potential to upstage the main drawcard in which Nkosinathi Joyi will be defending his IBF strawweight title against Japanese Katsunari Takayama.

While Mathebula has finally come good, and Nedzanani stepping out of semi-retirement, the jury is out on the future of other former champions from Limpopo. There’s talk about Phillip Ndou meeting Cassius Baloyi soon. Many fans will have mixed feelings about this fight by two excellent products of Baloyi’s father’s (Eric Baloyi) academy in Malamulele. The two veterans have served the sport with distinction for many years but their recent fights point to the exit.  While Baloyi lost two of his last three fights, Ndou’s last two victories were simply forgettable – against Welcome Ntshingila, who had lost all five matches before meeting Ndou, and Zimbabwean Bhekimpilo Mlilo, who is not known for having won anything of significance in the ring.

Baloyi and Ndou are 37 and 35 respectively. If the money is right for their muted match-up, why not? A man must eat at the end of the day. Moreover, the two are left with few years to build comfortable nests for retirement.  

Former national junior-flyweight champion Phathutshedzo Nemukongwe had his career cut shot in a bizarre fashion. After sensationally stopping Mbulelo Nyanda in the first round to capture the national crown in 2002, Nemukongwe dislocated his shoulders twice during fights. The first time was when he was far ahead on points against challenger Ayanda Ramncwana in 2003. He dislocated a shoulder again two years later, and took a break. When Nemukongwe returned to the ring again in 2009, it was clear he was not the same boxer anymore. He retired a year later after he was stopped in the last round of a four-rounder by Mluleki Fukile at the Wembley Arena in Johannesburg.

Other active recent champions from Limpopo include Tzaneen-born Osborne "Big Daddy" Machimana (heavyweight), Polokwane's Peter "Loverboy" Mashamaite (super-middleweight), Oscar "Golden Boy" Chauke (junior-feather) and Phalaborwa-born Jasper Seroka (junior-light). Other flag-bearers are SA junior-lightweight champion  Godfrey "The Punisher" Nzimande, ironically same title as his Phalaborwa homeboy Seroka; newly crowned lightweight champ Thompson Mokwana and the enigmatic Tshifhiwa “Atomic Spider” Munyai, Phillip Ndou’s Makwarela homeboy.

Munyai’s enigma is that he has been in the pro ranks since 2003, and fought for and won several international titles over the bantam division but he has not fought for the national title. In January Boxing SA accused him of having no interest in the SA title and threatened to pull him off the ratings, despite the Spider being the most talented local in this division.

I cannot mention everybody here but one thing is clear that the contribution of Limpopo’s talent in local boxing is not adequately appreciated. I am not aware of any projects by BSA in any of the centres which produce some of these boxers, either Phalaborwa or Makwarela or Malamulele. In the same breath, Cassius Baloyi’s fathers academy is in limbo now that the old man can no longer afford to fund it. He needs help, but those with influence and money are looking away, and yet we desire Olympic champions.

Eric Baloyi, the late promoter Harry Nengwekhulu, and other lesser known individuals, did their best for the sport of boxing in Limpopo. Something needs to be done to revive and carry the momentum forward, which must include the staging of tournaments in different Limpopo towns on a regular basis.

Where are the money people? Where is the government support?