WeeklySA_AdminPLOUGHING BACK:The former super middleweight champion is back in his hometown of Ladysmith honing new talent
By Pule Mokhine
South Africa’s Legendary erstwhile world champion Thulani “ Sugarboy” Malinga has set himself a target of producing world champions that will emulate his once-glowing fighting career.
The now-retired Malinga catapulted himself into the history boxing by winning the prestigious World Boxing Council (WBC) twice past his 40th birthday – thus becoming the oldest boxer to win a world title behind legendary George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins. Foreman, at the ripe age of 45, wrested the global belt, while Hopkins won his crown at 46.
Malinga’s fistic achievements are well documented, having engraved his name and country on the global boxing map by becoming the first-ever fighter from Mzansi to win the elusive WBC belt twice. This came about when he dethroned then highly-regarded champion Englishman Nigel Benn whom he beat in England in March 1996 to be crowned WBC super-middleweight champion.
Sugarboy earned cult hero status for his accomplishment. He was even invited to the Union Buildings as a guest of former President Nelson Mandela.
He lost in his first defense against Vincenzo Nardiello, but subsequently regained the diadem in his next match against Richie Woodall by a decision.
Malinga fought four more times before retiring after suffering an eighth-round technical knockout at the hands of Ole Klemetsenin in 2000. He finished his career with 44 wins (20 knockouts) and 13 losses. His accomplishments remain documented.
But a remarkable aspect is that Sugarboy captured a brace of WBC titles at the age when most of the boxers had already gone to pasture. But even as transplanted fighter from KZN he was one of the finest ring technicians to have been produced in this country.
The now 65 year-old who also captured the SA titles in three different weight classes, is hellbent on producing champions that will in future emulate him as world beaters – just like himself during his prime.
He currently hones talents of young fighters in his Ladysmith home town. They are Xolani Majola (flyweight); Nhlonipho Hluphi (junior welterweight); Siphilile Mkhonza (junior flyweight) and Mhlengi Ndlovu (junior welterweight).
“When I came back home in Ladysmith from Johannesburg in 2010 after my boxing career was over, I told myself that I was going to groom boxers back home to be in great shape like I was during my time in the ring.
The results are now there for all to see because some of them are so good that they are about to fight for SA crowns.,” says Malinga with a sense of pride.
Malinga, who grooms fighter from Newcastle, Ladysmith and Dundee said there was ample talent in his l province that needs to be untapped.
“ If these boys are extremely good and become champs like me during my boxing days, then I can consider promoting them in the near future. I want world champions” he adds with a chuckle.
Malinga said he missed the ring dearly as a prized fighter, adding that he spent most time at training to keep fit while not fine-tuning boxers.
“Winning the WBC belt was the proudest moment of my career and I still cherish that. I am yet to see a local boxer thatwill match my record as the old fighter to claim a world title,” he chuckled.
But it remains to be seen if Malinga will be good enough to unearth champions that will take the ring by storm in future, just like he himself did during his prime as a prized fighter.
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