Saturday’s bouts mark momentous return of professional boxing to Plett
Isizwe Boxing Promotion in conjunction with Bitou Municipality and Bitou Boxing Academy will be hosting a professional boxing tournament on December 7 to pay tribute to former president and amateur boxer Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who passed on during the month of December six years ago.
Says Bitou Boxing Academy chairman Sifundo Kenneth Magaga: ‘As a boxing community we decided to honour Madiba and commemorate his life by hosting a professional boxing tournament.
“Our Bitou boxers will be leading the pack of Garden Route pros in this national contest that will include 26 professional boxers. That means we will present 13 professional bouts right here in Plett, all sponsored by Bitou Municipality.”
The main light (bantam, six rounds) will pit Bitou star Unathi Mndwana against Mziwenkosi Ndwandwe from KwaZulu-Natal, while the main support fight (junior flyweight, six rounds) will see local hero Nwabisile Cholani up against Mbule-lo Nxazonke from Mdant-sane (East London).
Magaga says it has been many years since the last professional boxing tournament has been hosted in Plettenberg Bay.
“The last time we had this kind of event was in 2010, and for all the years in-between we have been lighting outside of Plett and the Western Cape, which had a negative effect on our fighters, as every boxer enjoys fighting in front of his home crowd.
“For all these years, our academy has enjoyed the full support of Plett Tourism under the leadership of former CEO Peter Wallington.
“As boxing-loving people, we are grateful for the support they gave us, even when we were fighting outside of our region.
“We thank Bitou Municipality for supporting this weekend’s event. Not only are they making our dreams come true, but they are also giving a boost to economic growth. Load entrepreneurs in the catering, transport and accommodation sector will benefit, as boxing pulls big crowds from outside of town who travel to support their boxers lighting in Plett.”
Magaga adds that a press conference on Friday, December 6, when the boxers will be weighed and introduced, will precede the main event at Piesang Valley community hall on Saturday the 7th from 1 pm to 7:30 pm (doors will open at 12 noon).
Tickets (children R40, adults R80, VIPs R150) are available at Compu-ticket, or visit Plett Tourism in Melville’s Corner and stand a chance to score a Bitou Boxing Academy t-shirt when buying two or more tickets.
“If fans from one community can fill up one taxi, we will provide free return transport from the event back to your home, all in the name of boxing development right here in Plett “concludes Magaga.
Email kenneth@bitouboxingacademy.co.za or call Phindiwe Nkopo on 073 286 2033 or Unathi Mndwana on 064 0864795 for additional information.