Gayton McKenzie Pushes to Revive SA Boxing

Caption: Minister Gayton McKenzie leads the charge to restore boxing to its former glory

(The Post News) – Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie is on a mission to revive SA boxing to its former prestige. Hosting a two-day conference in East London, Eastern Cape, he has gathered boxers, referees, and promoters to strategise on reviving the struggling sport. He likened the current state of boxing in South Africa to being on life support.

Once revered as the heart of boxing, the Eastern Cape has produced legends like Welcome Ncitha and Vuyani Bungu. However, the sport’s popularity has been steadily declining, largely due to a lack of exposure and limited resources.

Bungu, a former world champion, reminisced about a time when boxing thrived with frequent matches and strong sponsorship. He noted that in the past, promoters and sponsors were abundant, ensuring regular fights. Today, those sponsorships have dwindled, and funding that should sustain the sport is simply not reaching its intended destination.

For female boxers, the situation is even more dire. Bukiwe Nonina, a female boxer, expressed frustration over the lack of interest from promoters and sponsors. She pointed out that every new Boxing South Africa (BSA) board promises change, yet women in the sport continue to be overlooked.

McKenzie has vowed to put an end to the exploitation of boxers, especially when it comes to unfair pay. He firmly stated that no boxer should step into the ring for as little as R5,000, calling such payments unacceptable.

Looking ahead, McKenzie has scheduled a meeting with boxers next month to further address their concerns and push for real, lasting change in the industry.