‘Pressure Cooker’ mean machine on fiery rollercoaster
Jackie Gunguluza is regarded as being a controversial figure outside of boxing circles.
But there is no denying that Gunguluza was perhaps the best talent from this region that never won a world title in boxing.
The man who went by the “Pressure Cooker” moniker can look back on his ring career with a sense of pride, as he is the only boxer who won a national title three times.
In this interview, Gunguluza sheds light on a number of topics, including his failed attempt to dethrone Puerto Rican star Jon Jon Molina in 1992.
BOXING MECCA: Pressure, are you alive and kicking?
JACKIE GUNGULUZA: Very alive, kicking and praying, Merciless (he calls this scribe by that name).
BM: Why do you include praying now?
JG: Because I am a born-again Christian. My biggest strength lies in God’s hands so all I do is to give thanks to Him through prayers.
BM: OK, OK Pressure, let’s stick to boxing, shall we. Your name resonates with boxing fans out there so much that one would be surprised to learn that you never won a world title.
JG: Eish Merciless, I was unfortunate that I never laid my hands on a world title, because during our time there were fewer opportunities than there are now. These days there are many chances to fight for world titles, so much so that even a boxer coming off a loss can simply go and fight for a world championship. Just take a look at Gwayana (Mfundo). Not so long ago we watched him getting clobbered in a knockout defeat by Siyo (Luzuko), and the next thing is we are told that he is a world champion. (Note: Gwayana beat Dalisiwe Komani last week for the WBF Intercontinental title, not for a fully-fledged world crown.)
BM: You did get a chance, though, to fight for a world title when you took on Jon Jon Molina for the vacant IBF junior-lightweight crown. My boss cannot forget the fight; he and his schoolmates travelled to the fight by bus.
JG: Ohhh madoda. I am sorry I caused the East London people so much pain by not winning the fight. I had no idea that your boss was among the schoolchildren that went to the fight by bus. But one thing I must say is that I got Molina at the wrong time, when he was at his peak, so the chance was not ideal for me to win a world title.
BM: Yes you are right about getting Molina at the wrong time. I recall there were rumours that Brian Mitchell opted to vacate the IBF title rather than defend against him.
JG: I am not surprised by those rumours because that guy was as strong as a ox. I honestly believe he would have beaten Mitchell.
BM: But Jackie why did you fight in the junior-lightweight division when you were actually a featherweight?
JG: Like I said opportunities to fight for world titles were scarce so one had to grab it with both hands if it came along. I did the same here. Remember Vuyani Nene was a flyweight but he was forced to challenge for a world title in a heavier division.
BM: But Pressure, you made some sort of history when you won the SA featherweight title three times.
JG: That is my only comfort when I look back to my days as a boxer. I won my first title when I stopped Stanley Mathe in eight rounds in Port Elizabeth.
BM: How did that fight come about because if I recall correctly you were a junior-featherweight?
JG: You are right, I was a junior-featherweight but after I lost to Saxon Ngqayimbana he refused to give me another chance and after I saw Gerry Ngobeni fight Tshawe (Mxhosana Jongilanga) I felt that I could perhaps get a chance at the featherweight crown. Remember, then Tshawe was winding down his career and when he vacated, Mathe and I were mandated to battle for the title.
BM: You were still young then, and were a sort of unknown.
JG: My biggest fight then had been a loss to Ngqayimbana but I learnt a lot from that loss, so that I was confident of turning it into a positive.
BM: Mathe was a big puncher ...
JG: Merciless, that guy could punch. But I atoned myself well.
BM: After a few defences you lost the title to a rising star, Mthobeli Mhlophe, in a stunning fashion.
JG: I underestimated Mthobeli because he was my junior at Lwazi Senior Secondary. I just did not see myself losing to that lighty.
BM: What exactly did Mhlophe surprise you with?
JG: He was another big puncher and he used his reach and southpaw stance very well. I tried every trick in the book but he would not let me come near him. He boxed from a distance and swung his big left every time I came closer.
BM: I remember hearing that you cried bitterly after the fight.
JG: I was gut-wrenched Merciless, because I felt that I let myself down.
BM: You got a rematch and regained your title.
JG: But I had to go through hell before I got my title back. I remember I had to start by fighting for the Cape title and worked myself back to title contention. Bro Guwa (Michael) encouraged me and kept promising me that he would make sure that I regained my title. Before the rematch he even brought Bro Cyril (Adams) who was so good at planning against a southpaw.
BM: What can you say about the fight itself?
JG: The fight went according to plan because I never allowed Mhlophe to come forward. I backed him up throughout before putting him away in the eighth round.
BM: After the Molina fight you regained the national title, beating Andrew Matobola.
JG: I had to come back to fighting for a national title when I could not get another chance at a world title.
BM: But you lost it to one Philip Ndou in a fight that served as my lanchpad in covering boxing.
JG: Really Merciless? So I had an influence in what you have become? Pity you started when I was losing my title.
BM: I remember when you came to our offices in King William’s Town together with the late Mathemba Nyakathi to tell me that you were going to defend against Ndou after Charles Mailula withdrew. I could tell by the look in your eyes that you were grossly underestimating Ndou.
JG: Eish you have a good memory, Mailula withdrew at the eleventh-hour and I had to find another opponent. Ndou was available so I felt like, why not. After all he was young and I felt like I could outsmart him.
BM: But I warned you guys about that fight if you recall. Ndou was a big puncher who had a reputation of knocking out his opponents.
JG: Like I said I felt like I could outthink him. But I cannot tell you what happened at Orient Theatre that afternoon. One thing for me then was that I would rather have my opponent knock me out than give me a sustained beating. I dared it all against Ndou and he took me out in three rounds.
BM: Now tell us about these rumours that you were a religious believer in muti, so much so that you even used to go to your late parents’ graves at night.
JG: You know Merciless, when you succeed in what you do people will always label you. It is part of life because people refuse to attribute your success to hard work.
BM: But come on Pressure, are you telling me that this is a lie?
JG: I used to go to my father’s grave to ask for blessings before my fights but I did not use muti.
BM: Now came the issue that almost tore local boxing apart, when you went to England to help Naseem Hamed in his sparring when he was about to fight Vuyani Bungu.
JG: Up to this moment I still do not know what sparked that controversy because I did all I had to do. I mean I went to Hlathi (Bungu) and Bro Mzi to tell them that I had received this offer and that I would use it to get information about Naseem’s strategy. Furthermore I was in a financial corner so I had to take the offer because it paid well.
BM: Yes I recall you and Mathemba coming to me about the offer and I wrote a story about your trip.
JG: Merciless, we never hid anything about that offer but for some reason I was accused of being a sellout.
BM: After you came back did you sit down with Bungu and his management to give them information about Naseem’s strategy.
JG: I got off the plane and the first person I called was uHlathi and arranged to meet with him. I told him that he should be careful of Naseem’s punch because that boy could punch, Merciless. I also gave him other vital information but it turned out differently when he lost. (Note: Bungu was knocked out in four rounds by Hamed.)
BM: Now Jackie, tell us about this controversial life of yours. Do people misunderstand you or this is another side of you that I have never seen?
JG: One thing I can say is that I will never be the person I am portrayed to be. That is not my character, Merciless. But things happen for a reason so I have to live with that. However, that will never deter me from doing my fair share of empowering the community through projects mostly related to boxing.