KNOCKOUT [Sample Issue]

Simphiwe Konco retains his IBO championship

What’s Inside

Nelson Mandela - The Heavy-weight Boxer

by Ron Jackson

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n one of the best fights seen in the South African ring this year Simphiwe Konco retained the IBO minimum weight belt as he used all his boxing skills to outscore the ageing Nkosinathi Joyi to win on a unanimous 12-rounds points decision at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday.

Judges Lulama Mtya and Eddie Papoe scored it 119111 and 118-112, while judge Allen Matakane had a more realistic score of 116-113.

The scores were not a true reflection of an allaction fight fought at a tremendous pace throughout the 12 rounds, with the taller Joyi (47.58 kg) taking an early lead as he scored with his southpaw. In the middle rounds the lighter punching Konco (46.96 kg), who improved his record to 17-5; 7, began to score with stinging right hands to the head as he pierced the guard of the challenger.

With Joyi fighting as a minimum weight for the first time in more than three years he began to tire in the later rounds and ended the fight with his face puffed after a gallant effort Referee Tony Nyangiwe handled the fight in a competent manner.

In a clash for the vacant African Union super middleweight title South African super middleweight champion Lee Dyer 7-3-1; 6 stopped the gallant Giovanni Bushby 7-5-3; 5 in the eighth round. Time was 2:00.

Former boxing champion Dingaan Thobela arrested

Busby (75.28 kg) made a good start and possibly shaded the first three rounds, but then he proved to have no defence against the body punching of Dyer (75.20 kg) who knocked him down four times before Busby’s corner threw in the towel.

Aphiwe Masangwana (55.84 kg) outpointed defending champion Lwandisa Zinto (55.82 kg) over ten rounds to win the Eastern Cape featherweight title.

Renowned promoter Nick Durandt quits boxing

The scores were 97-92 and 97-91 twice. Masangwana improved his reported record to 5-1; 2 and Zinto’s reported record dropped to 16-8-1; 10. In a junior bantamweight contest Andile Nxayiphi outpointed Siphapmandla Mkhambaphi over four rounds. Minimum weight Xolisa Magusha stopped Ayanda Dulani in the third round of a scheduled eight.

The tournament was being presented by SuperSport and Golden Gloves Promotions as a tribute to one of South Africa’s most successful promoters in recent years, Mzi Mnguni.

Mayweather turns up at Rio boxing - to watch

FanaFlanagan outpoints Mzonke Fana

LOCAL NEWS

SA boxers fail to qualify for Olympics Light flyweight Sibusiso Bandla was the only redeemer as he reached the quarter-finals, but took the full count and lost to Devendro Laishram, as all three judges scored 30-27 for the Indian boxer.

In South Africa's Olympic history, boxing happens to be the country's second most successful sport in the medal tally, behind Athletics.

South African boxers have punched their way to 19 Olympic medals in total with six of them gold.

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Failing to qualify for the Olympics is just one of the many issues that have transpired in boxing over the past few decades and although it's still prevalent, SA has failed to get an Olympic podium position since post-apartheid. ape Town - For the first time since the 1912 Stockholm Games, there will be no South African boxer in the Olympic ring, as reported by the Sowetan.

Seven South African boxers travelled to the AIBA World Olympic Qualification tournament in Baku, which started on Thursday (June 16) and all came back failing to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games, which is scheduled to commence in August.

‘Mabhere’ keeping his powder dry – for now

Since rebounding with two victories from what appeared to be the epitaph of his career, former undisputed world mini-flyweight champion Nkosinathi “Mabhere” Joyi has slipped into silence.

Joyi was in action on April 22 as part of the Fort Hare University centenary celebrations when he beat Luyanda Nkwankwa on points to register his second win after his shocking first round blowout at the hands of Filipino Rey Loreto.

The road to redemption started with a knockout of Sinethemba Magibisela and continued with his points win over Nkwankwa.

Now Joyi says he is ready for a world title clash.

By: Melusi Zifo

This is a worrying circumstance, especially when looking back at South Africa's rich boxing history, where the country has won 135 'world' titles and produced some of the greatest boxing legends, such as Cassius Baloyi, Zolani Marali and 'Baby' Jake Matlala.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel, as South Africa won four International Boxing Organisation (IBO) titles in 2015, although they weren't major tournaments.

Nelson Mandela - The Heavy-weight Boxer

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ven while he was imprisoned, in an impossibly small cell on Robben Island, Nelson Mandela maintained a physical-fitness regimen.

In his younger years, he was also a heavyweight boxer, as depicted in this photo (which was made for "Drum" magazine).

It depicts Mandela on the roof of a Johannesburg building. Cropped out of the image is Jerry Moloi, with whom Mandela had been sparring.

In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela describes his love of boxing (and why he did it)

LOCAL NEWS

Boxgirls is recognized for fighting against Violence in South Africa

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PUU is an urban planning organisation in Khayelitsha (a township in Cape Town). The organisation recognized Boxgirls’ leadership in the field of violence protection and prevention, as well as BGSA’s women’s empowerment and education efforts. The article notes BGSA’s strong commitment to the belief in the power of women in girls to change not only their lives but the lives of their families and neighbors as well.

For Boxgirls the slogan “Strong Girls.

Safe Communities” is more than just a saying. VPUU captures this sentiment stating, “…if girls and women have the skills and the support to develop their sense of self, they will also take steps to protect themselves against gender-based violence and

work on building a safer community.

That’s why the aims and impact of the programme reaches from the individual girl to peer group and the broader community.”

Reaching these goals will not only have a strong positive impact on Boxgirls participants but also on the schools that the girls attend. Participants take the lessons that they’ve learned at Boxgirls into their schools and act a change multipliers to help make schools in South Africa safer.

When girls feel safe and supported at school they are more likely to pay attention to their lessons and excel at school. We support violence prevention because we support every girl’s right to an education in a safe and supportive environment.

Kessy Mkali A promising boxer from Tanzania

The story of Kessy Mkali is particularly inspiring. A refugee from Tanzania, he walked from Dar-es-Salaam to Cape Town. A shy lad, who spoke hardly any English, he arrived penniless and sought refuge with the MyLife foundation where he joined the boxing initiative.

Kessy found his passion, came out of his shell and found an easy camaraderie amongst the boxing coaches who took him under their wing. Kessy volunteered to help around the gym until he was given the job of cleaner and, assisted by the Armoury, took English lessons. Kessy is no longer homeless. He is a qualified boxing coach who runs boxing classes and has personal training clients.

Awesome!

Former SA boxing champion Dingaan Thobela arrested

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ormer boxer Dingaan ‘The Rose of Soweto’ Thobela was arrested in connection with his funeral business.

According to the SA Police Services, Commercial Crime unit arrested Thobela for contravention of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002 by failing to register his funeral

company as financial service advisor, as required by law.

Thobela appeared in the Specialized Commercial Crimes Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday. He was granted bail of R3000 and his case was postponed to 09 June 2015.

LOCAL NEWS

Former Bantam-weight champion ploughing back to his community through training

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our times Junior Bantamweight champion, Theo Modise [41] is sharing his boxing experience and techniques with young aspiring boxers of Zwelethemba.

Modise was born and grew up in Zwelethemba, where he gathered most of his boxing experience and support for his matches. When he retired from the sports few years back, he took a decision to share his retirement with young kids with love and passion for this action sport. His home's dining room is filled with trophies, medals and other accolades he obtained during his boxing days, and that symbolized his excellence back in the days.

As the co-founder and head trainer at Birds Boxing Club [BBC] assisted

by Xolani Xipu, Modise also serves

Konkco reveals he is fired to walk the talk

as the head coach of the Western Cape Open Boxing. His strategy at BBC is to target and train kids ranging from [10 - 12 years] and he currently has close to 25 trainees on the BBC membership database.

Some of these young boxers are expected to start their debut fights later this year and another four will compete in the Western Cape Cadet Championships.

While Modise and Xipu are ploughing back with their time to safeguard these youngsters from drugs and alcohol abuse, practice venue and funding emerges as their current challenges. As Department of Cultural Affairs & Sports [DCAS] affiliate, the BBC has been receiving transport subsidy only from DCAS for fights around the WC for 3 years and next years that might be coming to an end.

As we are approaching winter, absenteeism to trainings has been a trend for these young boxers due to non-availability for a proper training space on windy or rainy days.

Modise told Knockout he has been trying to get free venues for conducting their training sessions for quite some times, but due to lack of funds and sponsorship they've been struggling in that regard. "We have been getting a subsidy from the DCAS, however that's not enough for us to rent or hire a training facility for all our sessions that's why we need any kind of assistance from anyone willing to help" urges Modise. "I just love boxing and I want to be an undefeated champion like coach when I'm older" says one of BBC trainees, Akhanye Jozi.

Most renowned promoter Nick Durandt quits boxing pions of the world bodies, and has always had the biggest stable of boxers in the country.

He has produced something in the region of 30 world champions, 27 international champions and 95 South African champions.

No other manager or trainer in South Africa comes near the aforementioned figures.

Among the outstanding fighters he has taken to world titles are Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga, three-time South African and three-time world champion Phillip Ndou, Cassius Baloyi, Silence Mabuza, Isaac Hlatshwayo, Jacob Mofokeng, Jeffrey Mathebula, Malcolm Klassen, Siphiwe Nonqayi, Hawk Makepula, Zolani Tete and Moruti Mthalane.

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impiwe Konkco will engage in his biggest fight of his professional career when he contests for two world titles simultaneously against Hekkie Budler at Emperors Palace on September 19.

The 29-year-old will be chasing history as he will become the first ever boxer from the Tsolo area to fight for a world title, let alone compete for two, in one night.

Entering the Emperors Palace will be a mammoth task for Konkco as he has never fought in the venue where Budler commands a lot of followers.

We sat down with Konkco to find out if he is ready for the biggest day of his boxing career.

ick Durandt, who has produced more champions than in other trainer in the history of South African boxing, has decided to retire from the game after nearly 30 years of training and managing fighters.

Durandt, son of Cliff Durandt, who played professional football for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic, was born on December 26, 1963 in Wolverhampton, England, and arrived in South Africa with his father as a youngster.

He first learnt his trade under the guidance of former multiple South African champion and Empire champion Willie Toweel.

Flamboyant, colourful and even controversial at times, Durandt has continued to produce world champions, South African champions and numerous other divisional cham-

He also assisted with the training and conditioning of American Hasim Rahman who knocked out Lennox Lewis in the fifth round at Carnival City near Brakpan on April 22 2001 when the 20-1 underdog Rahman shocked the world with his win over the WBC, IBF and IBO champion who was also considered the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world at the time.

Nick is one of the strictest disciplinarians in boxing and there are few better conditioners. If a fighter slacks, there is no place for him in a Durandt gym.

A tough negotiator, he always ensured the best deal for his fighters.

Over the years he has received numerous awards as a trainer and manager of the year. His son Damian will now possibly take over the boxing operations

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Mayweather turns up at Rio boxing - to watch Rio de Janeiro -

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nbeaten American boxing star Floyd Mayweather made a surprise appearance at the Rio Olympics boxing on Saturday, surrounded by an imposing group of companions.

"Taking in some of the art & culture in the city of Rio De Janeiro," he tweeted earlier.

The action in the ring soon became of secondary importance as photographers at ring-side and spectators The former world champion, 39, who turned to snap pictures of Mayweathretired last year after going 49-0, ap- er, who took bronze for the United peared out of the blue in the crowd States at the 1996 Games before goin the afternoon session, a pair of ing on to become one of the finest headphones planted in his ears. boxers in history.

Irish boxing champ fails doping test

Terry Flanagan outpoints

Mzonke Fana to retain world title

London

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rish Olympic boxing medal hope Michael O'Reilly faces being sent home from Rio after failing a dope test, according to media reports in Ireland on Thursday. The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) said in a statement Thursday an unnamed Irish boxer has been provisionally suspended.

"The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has been notified by Sport Ireland today of an alleged violation of the Irish Anti-doping Rules committed by one of the boxers in our High Performance Unit," read their statement.

"In following the strict procedures applying to an adverse analytical finding, the athlete in question has been informed and is provisionally suspended. "The boxer can request to have a 'B' sample tested but cannot participate in any competition or activity prior to the completion of an investigation under Article 8 of the Irish Anti-doping Rules."

O'Reilly, who won the European Games middleweight title last year in Baku, is slated to fight his first Olympic bout in the last 16 on August 12th after receiving a bye in the first round.

The 23-year-old further burnished his medal chances with bronze in the world championships last year.

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erry Flanagan kept hold of his WBO world lightweight title but was taken the distance by veteran Mzonke Fana in Cardiff.

Flanagan (31-0-KO12) had been favoured to dispatch his South African opponent inside the distance but found the 42-year-old an awkward and frustrating proposition even though he earned scores of 120-106 on all three judges' cards.

Fana (38-10-KO16) entered to Bob Marley's 'Buffalo Soldier' and appeared to be dancing double-time when the first bell went; his fidgety style seeming to confuse Flanagan until the champion found a good back-hand counter to assert superiority.