Promising young boxer Phendula Kolisi, a rising junior flyweight star, was laid to rest at the weekend after he was killed in a Mdantsane shebeen two weeks ago.
Kolisi was buried at his home area at NU1 in Mdantsane.
His is yet another fatality among boxers who have suffered a similar fate in recent times.
Just six months ago promising featherweight boxer and Lwando Molwana of Lady-Frere were stabbed to death in a shebeen in Cape Town. A day later, veteran welterweight boxer Boitshepo Mandawe also died in a stabbing incident in Soweto.
While boxers’ death by stabbing is rife around the country, the scourge is worse in the East London region.
In recent years the East London boxing fraternity has mourned the loss of: promising junior featherweight Stanley Gola; Mbulelo Mpendu, Lundi Madondile, Thamsanqa Dubase, Luthando Joni, Lulama Ngqayimbana, Thulani Vena, Malibongwe Silinyane and Mandisi Sizani – to name just a few.
Others, such as rising star Luthando Bhaneti, had their careers cut short due to injuries sustained in stabbing incidents.
Kolisi’s death has sparked boxing stakeholders to sit up and take action.
Boxing South Africa-Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs admitted that awareness programmes to educate boxers about the dangers of frequenting shebeens were required.
“This has been unprecedented in recent years because obviously our boxers do not understand that they are now professionals and therefore should desist to visit places such as shebeens,” he said.
Boxing South Africa (BSA) chairwoman Ntambi Ravele said the regulatory body was planning to include male boxers in its life-skills programme currently being rolled out for female fighters.
“We need to tackle this scourge as a matter of urgency before it tarnishes the image of our sport,” she said.
“A fortnight ago we had Jabu Pule at one of our our female boxers seminars where he shared his story of drinking binges and money splurges and these latest tragedies prompt us to include them in this awareness programme.”
Details about the death of Kolisi remain sketchy, with even his manager Ayanda Matiti unable to shed light on what had led to the stabbing.
At the time of his death, Kolisi was only 23 years old and destined for stardom. He had lost just a single fight in six bouts, winning the rest by stoppages and had jumped from seventh spot on the national rankings to fourth.
Matiti said at the time of his death Kolisi had already received approval to challenge for the vacant WBO Africa junior flyweight crown in East London. “The fight was scheduled for May 15 and I was on my way to tell him when instead I got the shocking news of his death,” he said.
While BSA is planning to run an awareness programme, regional boxing stakeholders have decided to form a committee to address the scourge.
Provincial department of sports, recreation, arts and culture boss Bafundi Makhubalo said his department was willing to join the committee.
“Indeed we have to come up with something to curb this,” he said.
Boxers' careers cut short by fatal attacks
Kolisi was buried at his home area at NU1 in Mdantsane.
His is yet another fatality among boxers who have suffered a similar fate in recent times.
Just six months ago promising featherweight boxer and Lwando Molwana of Lady-Frere were stabbed to death in a shebeen in Cape Town. A day later, veteran welterweight boxer Boitshepo Mandawe also died in a stabbing incident in Soweto.
While boxers’ death by stabbing is rife around the country, the scourge is worse in the East London region.
In recent years the East London boxing fraternity has mourned the loss of: promising junior featherweight Stanley Gola; Mbulelo Mpendu, Lundi Madondile, Thamsanqa Dubase, Luthando Joni, Lulama Ngqayimbana, Thulani Vena, Malibongwe Silinyane and Mandisi Sizani – to name just a few.
Others, such as rising star Luthando Bhaneti, had their careers cut short due to injuries sustained in stabbing incidents.
Kolisi’s death has sparked boxing stakeholders to sit up and take action.
Boxing South Africa-Eastern Cape manager Phakamile Jacobs admitted that awareness programmes to educate boxers about the dangers of frequenting shebeens were required.
“This has been unprecedented in recent years because obviously our boxers do not understand that they are now professionals and therefore should desist to visit places such as shebeens,” he said.
Boxing South Africa (BSA) chairwoman Ntambi Ravele said the regulatory body was planning to include male boxers in its life-skills programme currently being rolled out for female fighters.
“We need to tackle this scourge as a matter of urgency before it tarnishes the image of our sport,” she said.
“A fortnight ago we had Jabu Pule at one of our our female boxers seminars where he shared his story of drinking binges and money splurges and these latest tragedies prompt us to include them in this awareness programme.”
Details about the death of Kolisi remain sketchy, with even his manager Ayanda Matiti unable to shed light on what had led to the stabbing.
At the time of his death, Kolisi was only 23 years old and destined for stardom. He had lost just a single fight in six bouts, winning the rest by stoppages and had jumped from seventh spot on the national rankings to fourth.
Matiti said at the time of his death Kolisi had already received approval to challenge for the vacant WBO Africa junior flyweight crown in East London. “The fight was scheduled for May 15 and I was on my way to tell him when instead I got the shocking news of his death,” he said.
While BSA is planning to run an awareness programme, regional boxing stakeholders have decided to form a committee to address the scourge.
Provincial department of sports, recreation, arts and culture boss Bafundi Makhubalo said his department was willing to join the committee.
“Indeed we have to come up with something to curb this,” he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos