Former SA flyweight and WBU junior bantamweight champion Gabula “Slashing Tiger” Vabaza, who died on December 11, will be buried in East London on Friday.
Vabaza’s funeral service will be held at the East London City Hall and he will be laid to rest at Cambridge Cemetery.
This was announced at his memorial service at Gompo Hall in Duncan Village on Wednesday where more than 100 people came together to celebrate his life.
The organiser of the memorial service, secretary of the Unity Boxing Fraternity (UBF) Vuyani Mbinda, gave a heart-warming tribute to the fallen champion.
“When Vabaza first came out, I think it was 1998, I became more interested in his fights because he was a southpaw and all southpaws say watch me box.
“And all the southpaw boxers have to be aggressive in order to balance the fight out and he was no exception, this young hero,” said Mbinda.
Mbinda said the champion was a highly skilled boxer at a very young age and if Vabaza had more time in the ring he would have achieved more.
“Most boxers today quickly rise to the SA championship title, but when Vabaza rose to win the SA championship title, he had not fought that much. But when you watched him box he was very mature.
“He was a very polished boxer, thanks to the boxing legends he surrounded himself with like Welcome Ncita.”
Mbinda said after visiting the Vabaza family a day after the death of their son, the UBF knew they had to make a contribution.
“I didn’t like the way his career ended, including those of other boxing greats in this province, and I think something has to be done for our boxers, like counseling to all the former champions when they are no longer boxing and making money.
“Even when we visited his family’s home, he was surviving with his 92-year-old grandmother on her pension.
“And I think he was thinking of his past glory – when he was still a champion. So I think his heart failure was caused by that because if you think too much you decrease your life.”
Mbinda added: “It’s December and people are doing nice things for their families and he couldn’t do anything for his kids like buying things they need.
“And I saw how heart broken his daughter was. She cried the entire time we were at the family home.
“We have truly lost a good person as Buffalo City Metro and the country and we are sharing pain the with family until the last minute.
“Thanks to the speaker of BCM council Alfred Mtsi and his colleague Xolani Witbooi, they were of great help and I want to thank them for also coming to memorial service,” said Mbinda.
In a press statement department of sport, recreation, arts & culture MEC Bulelwa Tunyiswa said she received the news with a heavy heart as Vabaza was one of the greatest boxing talents to have emerged in the province.
“He was known to be a marvel to watch in the ring,” said Tunyiswa...