Competing in the 14-year age group, Lathitha Wodini and Lithini Ntutiwe battle it out during a 3-bout boxing match for amateurs. Organised by Zola Koti, the fight took place at the Kuwait Taxi Rank in Site C, Khayelitsha. Picture: Phando Jikelo/ African News Agency (ANA)
CAPE TOWN - Respected boxing trainer Zola Koti, who has produced world champions such as Mzonke “The Rose of Khayelitsha” Fana and Mzuvukile Magwaca, to name two, has gone back to grassroots level, working to revive the love of boxing in communities.
At the busy Kuwait Taxi Rank in Site C Khayelitsha recently, he hosted an amateur boxing tournament for struggling clubs around Khayelitsha, for boxing hopefuls aged 11 to 17.
The youngsters did not disappoint as we witnessed some good, strong punches, jabs and uppercuts.
I for one witnessed the great talent of Elam Rhayo, 11, which reminded me of the great Baby Jake Matlala, who was short but able to defeat taller opponents due to his skill and strong punches.
The youngster had a big heart as he took charge of the fight and went forward in collecting winning points. He accurately landed his jabs and left hook punches on his opponent, Sizo Matyeni. The youngster was also inspired by being in the same ring with Mzonke Fana, who was the referee for his fight.
The taxi rank was abuzz as excited commuters, taxi drivers and owners came to watch the boys.
Most of the onlookers said they miss watching the sport, as it doesn’t get much coverage on TV, with many complaints that there were no promoters and no assistance.
Luzuko Tshotshi, from Mdantsane, the “Mecca of boxing”, was delighted to be there as it reminded him of where he grew up – where sport is a culture and for many, a way of surviving the hard life of the Eastern Cape townships.
The second bout involved Lithini Ntutiwe, 14, of the Cape Round Youth versus Lilitha Wodini of the Future Champs, which saw a knock-out.
Ntutiwe was saved by his coach several times when he could not finish the three-round bout.
Most of the time he was against the ropes, unable to defend himself.
When speaking to Koti about his experience of what he saw and wanted to achieve, he said that some of the boxers would be ready to turn professional in the next five years.
“My main aim of the tournament was to develop the sport and bring it to the people. In the past three years
it has tragically declined and we have been without a national champion from the province for the past five years, which is not good.”
Although there were many who came to view, Koti said he was concerned about those parents who weren’t supporting their children.
“There are some parents who do not come to see us when we are training. In a tournament such as this, you see how talented your child is and this motivates the younger ones. It also keeps them busy and away from the streets, where they are easily influenced,” Koti said. Boxing used to be popular in the townships. On Sunday afternoons people would be glued to their TV screens, and some stay up late to watch the international bouts.
Boxing champion Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni ended up relocating to Johannesburg because there were more opportunities for boxers there.
In a radio interview with Robert Marawa, he mentioned being taken advantage of by promoters, who were exploiting them and not giving them the purses they deserved.
He decided to wait for a fight that would benefit him as a boxer and not just the promoter. Marawa said that international boxers who were ranked lower than him were millionaires, but this was not the case with him because of exploitation.
In the past, Fana was a champion who went for months without a fight because of his demands when he tried to negotiate terms.
In the end he was unsuccessful as a negotiator, finding that promoters always had an advantage due to their connections with sponsors.
Koti said by hosting tournaments, he hoped to attract small businesses to contribute. If that happened, Khayelitsha would again see OR Tambo Hall being packed like it was when he brought the likes of IBF champ Malcolm Klassen to fight at that venue.
Cape Times