A video of a former Komani boxer challenging restaurant patrons to a fight, which is being widely circulated on social media, has shocked the Komani boxing fraternity.
The video, which lasts for two minutes, starts with the boxer walking around a popular restaurant in Komani wearing only his underwear, sneakers and hand gloves.
He is heard swearing and challenging customers to a fight.
“I am not a boy I am a man! Do you want to know my name? Jack fired me, I am a hungry lion! I am going to eat you!’’ he shouted.
Saturday Dispatch is not naming the boxer as he may be afflicted by mental illness or substance abuse.
Bulelani Qowa, who took the video, which had more than 37000 views and was shared 454 times on Facebook, said the boxer fled after staff at the restaurant called security to have him evicted.
Queenstown Boys Boxing Club trainer Mabhuti Mapeyi said he was saddened by the video.
“I used to train that young man at my gym and he disappeared for about a year. The last time I saw him he was doing well at school and at church so I do not know what happened to him.”
Mapeyi said this was the second boxer in the area to be caught acting strangely in public.
“I do not want to speculate but some of our boys end up getting involved with the heavy drugs when they see that they can’t turn professional.
“If we had promoters in our area, then maybe that would inspire our boxers, but when they see that they are not getting anywhere with their boxing they get discouraged.”
He said the area was still faced with a lack of support for boxers.
“They do not want to stop boxing at amateur level. If our clubs had finances and the support they need, everything would be working out well for our boxers but, as we all know, clubs in the townships have absolutely nothing.
“We do go around and ask for sponsorships from businesses but people think that we are trying to raise this money for our own needs, so it becomes difficult to give our boxers the best that they can get from the sport without any proper resources.” — bhongoj@tisoblackstar.co.za
Ex-boxer in shocker video a sad sight
The video, which lasts for two minutes, starts with the boxer walking around a popular restaurant in Komani wearing only his underwear, sneakers and hand gloves.
He is heard swearing and challenging customers to a fight.
“I am not a boy I am a man! Do you want to know my name? Jack fired me, I am a hungry lion! I am going to eat you!’’ he shouted.
Saturday Dispatch is not naming the boxer as he may be afflicted by mental illness or substance abuse.
Bulelani Qowa, who took the video, which had more than 37000 views and was shared 454 times on Facebook, said the boxer fled after staff at the restaurant called security to have him evicted.
Queenstown Boys Boxing Club trainer Mabhuti Mapeyi said he was saddened by the video.
“I used to train that young man at my gym and he disappeared for about a year. The last time I saw him he was doing well at school and at church so I do not know what happened to him.”
Mapeyi said this was the second boxer in the area to be caught acting strangely in public.
“I do not want to speculate but some of our boys end up getting involved with the heavy drugs when they see that they can’t turn professional.
“If we had promoters in our area, then maybe that would inspire our boxers, but when they see that they are not getting anywhere with their boxing they get discouraged.”
He said the area was still faced with a lack of support for boxers.
“They do not want to stop boxing at amateur level. If our clubs had finances and the support they need, everything would be working out well for our boxers but, as we all know, clubs in the townships have absolutely nothing.
“We do go around and ask for sponsorships from businesses but people think that we are trying to raise this money for our own needs, so it becomes difficult to give our boxers the best that they can get from the sport without any proper resources.” — bhongoj@tisoblackstar.co.za
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