Tag: boxing

American boxing legend Muhammad Ali had a deep connection with Africa: the continent's fighting spirit influenced his own articulate political and spiritual philosophy. Ali...

Thembani "Terror" Gqeku set up his African Youth Boxing Club in Khayelitsha when he saw two youngsters trying to stab each other. He uses boxing to teach the township youth that there is another way of life that does not involve crime, violence and drugs.

The sleepy town coastal of East London is one of the poorest metropoles in South Africa - and the townships around it are even poorer. Yet this tiny part of South Africa has produced some of the country's - and the world's - greatest boxing champions. Shamin Chibba found out why.

Floyd Mayweather, universally recognised as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, arrived in South Africa on Wednesday. The boxing great will spend a week in the country in a bid to boost boxing in the Rainbow Nation.

Olympics boxing used to be the pride of South African sports before the country was barred from the Games in 1962. Lots of boxers meant lots of medals. Fifty years on, only two boxers are heading to London, carrying the country’s hopes with them.
• Sport in South Africa

South Africa has a proud sporting history, and its people hold many world records and titles across a host of disciplines, on both an individual and team level. The country is also renowned for its successful hosting of major sporting events.
• Football in South Africa

Laila Ali made short work of Gwendolyn O'Neil in the first professional boxing match between women in South Africa. The fans - Nelson Mandela among them - saw more action in the main supporting bout, as Cassius Baloyi lifted his fifth world title.

South Africa's Stanley Christodoulou, the first man to referee world title fights in all 17 weight categories, the third to oversee 100 world title bouts - and the one ringside judge to rule in favour of Lennox Lewis in his first infamous clash with Evander Holyfield - has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

South Africa has a proud history on the world boxing stage. The country's boxers have won over 50 world titles, from light flyweight through to heavyweight, and South Africa continues to churn out fighters ready to challenge for world crowns.

South African sportsmen and sportswomen turned in some notable performances during 2002. In a number of sports the achievements were especially good, and here we acknowledge those sports that brought honour to the country and to the individuals that shone.