By OBAKENG MAJE
It may be tough to be the next Floyd Mayweather or Canelo Alvarez. However, 25 young boxers who will be representing the North West province under the auspices of the South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation (SANABO) say they got what it takes.
Young boxers aged between 12 and 18, will be performing at Gqeberha in the Easten Cape during December 2021.
North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi said she believes that these younger boxers will put out a ‘stellar performance’ and put the North West on the map.
“These boys and girls will be competing in the cadets (12 – 14 years) and juniors (15 and 16 years) from 14 to 18 December 2021. In the last encounter back in 2019, the North West scooped overall second place in cadets and third in juniors.
“They also romped home with the Boxer of the Tournament Award, through Olona Kolo.
The North West boxers were chosen from a provincial tournament that took place last Saturday in Rustenburg, where all four districts were represented,” Tlhapi said.
According to the department, the event comprised 28 bouts among young boys and girls, vying for a ticket to the coastal city. Tlhapi further said the tournament in Rustenburg and the provincial selections mark important milestones in their quest to bring boxing back to life in the province.
“Rustenburg was the second in a four destination series of tournaments to revive boxing in the province. The first one was in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda. Beyond the national event, we are setting our eyes on the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Ngaka Modiri Molema Districts.
“We wish our boys and girls well in their quest for glory in the Eastern Cape. Given the size of our province, one could safely say they punch above their weight. We all hope they will keep or even improve on the high standards they set in Limpopo two years ago,” she said.
Tlhapi added that through them, they hope to produce boxers in the calibre of the late Norman ‘’Pangaman’’ Sekgapane.
The Guardian 