After being unable to walk, Mzuvukile “Old Bones” Magwaca has described as a “miracle” the fact that he found his way back into the boxing ring following his senseless shooting during a robbery incident in January 2018.
Old Bones, as he is affectionately known in the boxing fraternity, had his leg shattered above the knee after being shot during a robbery at his home in Site C.
Many, including Magwaca, believed his glittering career was cut short and would never enter the ring again.
At the time of the incident he was an undefeated boxer with a record of 23 fights with 20 wins, three draws and no loss.
In a telephonic interview with City Vision Magwaca said after seeing the injury in his leg he never thought he will ever fight again.
“I had given up in the sport I loved so much. But God said no,” he said. In December last year Magwaca was featured in an exhibition fight against Nkcubeko Jacobs at Catch Hall in Cape Town.
“One day while I was busy helping out other boxers at the gym where I had come to share my skills in boxing I decided to punch the bag,” he said. “I needed to sweat, get rid of my belly and show how these boxers is done by punching the bag.”
Magwaca never thought this day would flip his world upside down again. “My coach, Michael, when he saw me punching the bag he told me I should box again. I told him I will not. How could I box again? He left it there, and again he said the same thing to me, just that we needed to work on my leg.” said Magwaca. He then organised and had three physio sessions to work on his leg.
Magwaca said, slowly but surely, he regained his strength and felt it was all “magic” to find such strength and balance again.
While things seemed to be improving, his movement was also being enhanced and he started to do sparring.
“Tyhini ndababetha abantwana (I whipped these youngsters)!” he said. “The sparring intensified though I still could not move as I am used too. I received a lot of encouragement from other boxers and I also regained confidence in myself.” Magwaca decided to do boxing license again last year.
Magwaca ( 31) said the reality is he will no longer fight as a 25 or 27 year old anymore.
He said his style of boxing will change and was trying to adjust as much as possible.
“I will no longer move around the ring that much. But I still have the hand speed, power and the experience gained will work in my favour.” Magwaca expresses a desire still to challenge for the SA title. He is also adamant that he can still box for another four years.
The father of two children aged 7 and 5, believes the robbers killed him “emotionally”. “After the shooting incident I was no longer myself. They took much away from me and things started to go sour. A lot of people turned their backs on me.”
Despite that he received a lot of support from his former manager, Kenny Fernandez, as he paid for his physio treatment for six month.
“I was still on crutches and didn’t even think I would ever be able to walk again. Kenny also bought me a spinning bicycle to train at home. On the same year of the incident in March I was supposed to be fighting in England but all that was ruined,” he still remembers.
Magwaca, who originally hails from East London, in Duncan Village, the mecca of boxing in the country, urged people not to “give up not knowing what God has in store for you”.
“Never judge yourself,” he says. “There’s nothing impossible in life. My experience has taught me that.”
