Highest honour for EL boxing legend

Vuyani Bungu holds the South African record for the most world title defenses after he retained his IBF world junior featherweight title 13 times.

Now the Mdantsane boxing legend has added yet another feather to his fistic cap after he became the first former boxer to be appointed an International Boxing Organisation (IBO) ambassador.

Bungu’s appointment was announced by IBO president Ed Levine who said it was a historic moment for the US-based world sanctioning body as it thrives to raise the profile of boxing in Africa, as well as to conduct public relations on behalf of the organisation.

Bungu will oversee the IBO’s programme in Africa by attending the organisation’s sanctioned tournaments.

“We are excited to announce the appointment of former world champion Vuyani Bungu as our ambassador in Africa,” Levine said.

Bungu becomes the first appointee of the programme with Levine saying that other ex-boxers would be considered to roll out the programme on other continents.

Bungu, who now trains boxers, including Mdantsane’s Makazole Tete, was ecstatic with the appointment.

“It came as a complete surprise for me but I am up for the challenge because I honestly think boxing in Africa needs these kind of programmes,” he said.

He allayed fears that his new job would interfere with his training duties and may even cause a conflict of interest when his boxers are preparing fights sanctioned by other world bodies.

“My job would be be solely to advance the IBO’s programme and it therefore has nothing to do with the training of boxers,” he said.