WeeklySA_AdminHISTORY: First time in the annals of local boxing for a father-and-son liaison to entertain fans on the same card
By Pule Mokhine
It will be history in the making for South African boxing when father and son feature on the same bill in a boxing tournament at SABC Renaissance Centre at Auckland Park, Johannesburg next Friday.
This memorable moment will unfold when veteran fighter Bongane ”Wonderboy” Mahlangu, 43, from Boipatong in Gauteng squares up against Mduduzi Mzimela of KwaZulu- Natal for the SA junior featherweight title. At stake will be Mahlangu’s championship belt. On the same card Mahlangu’s son Benni Maitse, 21, will exchange blows against Ontiretse Seleka from the North West over four rounds in the same weight division.
There has never been such an occurrence in the annals of local boxing for a father-and-son liaison to entertain fans on the same card.
The tournament, staged by the charismatic SA promoter Joyce Kungwane who is dubbed “Iron Lady”, is aptly coined Celebrating Freedom Month on the Ring as it coincides with this historic month on the country’s calendar. But it is the caliber of the bill itself that is likely to intrigue boxing fans that will attend the showdown.
Besides, this event will also be a fitting tribute to “Wonderboy” as he is the first pugilist ever – by his own admission – to enter the ring at the age by which he is already at the sunset of his career.
In accordance with the rules of professional boxing, he is supposed to have long hung up his gloves in his early 30’s. But the age- defying Mahlangu is having none of it, stating categorically that he will only quit the fisticuffs game when he reaches 50.
What makes the scenario even more intriguing is that Maitse has reached a stage when he was half his dad’s age not so long ago.
But Mahlangu, who also holds the International Boxing Federation All Africa belt, is unperturbed by his advanced age as he wants to rewrite his own history by being the oldest champion the country has ever produced. He squares up against a 27-year-old foe Mzimela who is ranked in top contention for the national crown.
But it is the feeling of sharing the card with his son that tickles the champion’s fancy ahead of the fight more than anything else.
“I am looking forward to making history by becoming the first boxer ever to share the same bill with his son. This will be an historic moment in SA boxing for such a thing to happen. I am determined to win the fight on the night that my son Benni will come out tops,” says Mahlangu.
“We both share the gym and fit and raring to go for the tournament. But the cherry on top for me will be to retain my crown on the night when my boy will win his second fight in the professional ranks. I am aware that age is no longer on my side. I hope to win all the way and maybe stop boxing when I reach 50. This will be a milestone.”
Mahlangu is quite aware that he is facing an average opponent in Mzimela whom he does not wish to underestimate. The latter is undefeated in five bouts.
“He looks young and inexperienced, but I will give him the respect he deserves inside the ring by going toe-to-toe with him before knocking him out. I want to impress my son who will be sharing the bill with me by winning,” explained the champion, who together with Maitse, are trained by his Sandile Mahlangu. He is Mahlangu’s elder brother and Maitse ‘s uncle.
In another bout on the bill, former World Boxing Federation and SA female bantamweight champion Bukiwe Nonina faces Zimbabwean Chiedza Homakoma for the second time in less than two years.
CALLED “SCHOOLBOY”
A CHAMPION CALLED “SCHOOLBOY”
GREATEST: When he gave up boxing in 1972 he was still the junior welterweight and lightweight champion at age 42
By Sports Reporter
One evening in Cape Town 60 years ago, the great Enoch ‘Schoolboy’ Nhlapho fought a guy called Phillip ‘Kid’ Sibeko.
In the eighth round, ‘Schoolboy’ threw a righthand to Sibeko’s body. Sibeko stopped the punch with his elbow – and broke ‘Schoolboy’s’ arm. But ‘Schoolboy’ said nothing. He didn’t want the referee to see. And for the last three rounds, he fought with one hand. He won the last three rounds. And he won the fight.
Enoch ‘Schoolboy’ Nhlapho was a brave boxer. And he was a great boxer. Some people say he was the greatest boxer ever born in South Africa.
He fought for 20 years. And he fought the best of them. He beat most of them. And he lost to a couple of them. He won three South African titles.
He was the junior welterweight champion, the welterweight champion and the lightweight champion. And when the great ‘Schoolboy’ gave up boxing in 1972, he was still the junior welterweight and lightweight champion. He was 42 years old and still a champion.
THE FIRST FIGHT
They called him ‘Schoolboy’ because he started boxing when he was still at school. “
“I had this friend Henry Seabelo. He was a boxer. He was called the ‘Sophiatown Fighting Machine’. One day in 1948 Henry took me a long to the. gym. That’s where I started to box.
“I had my first fight in 1949. I remember that fight well. I fought this guy Ezekiel Mogotsi. Man, I was scared that day. My legs were shaking.
I· didn’t want to leave my corner. I lost my first fight. “I felt bad after that first fight. I felt ashamed. I couldn’t look at anybody. I decided I must not lose again.” And the ‘Schoolboy’ did not lose again for a long, long time.
“I always went for the body first,” says Enoch. “It’s like slow poison. You first weaken the body. Then you go for the head.”
Most people say ‘Schoolboy’ greatest fight was his fight against Sexton ‘Wonderboy’ Mabena in May 1961. They were fighting for the lightweight title. Over 10 000 people went to the old Bantu Sports Ground in Johannesburg to watch the fight.
‘Schoolboy’ was in a lot of trouble. After the ninth round, he was a long way behind on points.
By the eleventh round, the slow poison had got to ‘Wonderboy’. He was weak. And he was dizzy. Then ‘Schoolboy’ went for the head. Now ‘Wonderboy’ was in trouble. He leaned on the ropes. And he couldn’t fight back. When the fight ended, ‘Schoolboy’ had done enough. He won the fight on points. One time ‘Schoolboy’ fought this guy Mngadi. He was the Natal Champion. “I was giving him a hiding,” says Enoch. “Then in the last round some body turned the lights off. So they stopped the fight. The fight was a draw – and I never saw Mngadi again.” ‘Schoolboy’ did a lot of fighting. He fought in 125 fights altogether.
‘Schoolboy’s’ last fight was against MacKeed Mofokeng.
Nhlapo was a truly excellent boxer but the government’s apartheid policies prevented him from fighting the best from overseas. He would easily have won at least one version of the “world” titles had he been active now.
Born on March 7, 1933 he passed away on July 7, 2013, at the Lesedi Clinic in Diepkloof, Soweto at the age of 80.
