Simamkele Damesi of the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club (OWBC) in Zwelihle returned home a hero after winning all his matches on the international stage to bring home gold, making coach Mzi Damesi’s dream finally come true.
The 19-year-old’s excitement at beating his opponent from India 5-0 in the final of the International Boxing tournament, which took place from 20 to 22 June in the Seychelles, knew no bounds as he shouted for joy and jumped into the air.
OWBC founder Mzi beamed with pride as he reflected on his star boxer and nephew’s tremendous feat of being the only boxer from Team SA to win gold at the event in which boxers from seven countries – South Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, India, Sri Lanka, Réunion and Russia – competed.
“I felt extremely emotional as it has always been my dream that one of my boxers will win gold at an international event. I am super proud of Simamkele. He won his first match 5-0, the second 3-2 and the final 5-0.”
This was the second time Damesi represented the national boxing team and his club at an international boxing tournament, the first was when he won bronze in Angola in the 67 kg division earlier this year in May.
He follows in the footsteps of his older brother Siphamandla, who represented South Africa at the BRICS Games Boxing Tournament in Russia last year. Although he made his club proud by winning his first international fight in the quarter-finals against Daniil Titko, an experienced boxer from Belarus, Siphamandla had to bow out when he lost his next bout.
Simamkele, who is currently the national champion in the 67 kg division, did not rest on his laurels after winning gold in Seychelles. Last week he competed in the South African National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) National Men, Women, Youth and Elite Championship held in Pretoria where he won gold and was crowned the Best Elite Boxer in SA in his division, earning him another gold medal and a trophy.
He was the only OWBC boxer to compete in the national event. “I believe he has a lot of potential and can make it very far in boxing. He is a very talented boxer, he has a strong left hook and his movements are fast and strong,” said Mzi.
“He is training very hard and he is being prepared to fight at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. But we need the communtiy’s support to improve his chances even further. Simamkele needs training shoes, tracksuits, sport bags, boxing gloves and the services of a dietician to advise him about the best food to eat to build up his strength. We also need the services of a doctor and physical therapist.”
With just his vision, tons of passion and nothing more than a boxing bag hung from a tree in somebody’s yard, Mzi started his boxing club more than 20 years ago in Zwelihle. Since then OWBC has grown in leaps and bounds with the support of generous donors such as the EMS Foundation, which generously contributed to the construction and kitting out of the club’s state-of-the-art gym.
With the support of their donors and as result of the boxers’ hard work and dedication OWBC has produced a number of national boxing champions such as Simamkele, his brother Siphamandla, Akhule Mgoqi, Siyakholwa Nxanti and Sihle Mjongile.
Recently the club also received a generous donation from the Overstrand Municipality. Overstrand Municipal Manager Dean O’Neill stated: “During June, Overstrand Municipality supported various Youth Month events, including arranging for the Executive Mayor, Archie Klaas, to hand boxing equipment to the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club (OWBC) at a special tournament on 21 June 2025.”
Mzi made use of the opportunity to introduce Western Cape Open Boxing president Sidney Ntantiso to Mayor Archie Klaas, Councillor Ronald Nutt, Mayco member for Community Services and Ayanda Stali, the municipality’s Sport Coordinator.
Mzi’s club continues to go from strength to strength with its young boxers proudly putting the club and the region’s name on the map. Anyone who wishes to join the club or support it can contact Mzi on 082 621 5906.
