THE Chris Hani Amateur Boxing Organisation (CHABO) secretary, Mabhuti Mapeyi, with other four officials, on Sunday accompanied five boxers from the district to Mdantsane, East London, where the fighters were hoping to be granted professional status.
The tournament was organised by Boxing South Africa (BSA) together with Eastern Cape Amateur Boxing Organisation (ECABO) and the age group was 19 and over.
The five boxers were Sakhumzi Vamva, 18, Ayabulela Tsoliwe, 18, both from Cala, Lukhanyo Matiso, 20, from Komani, Bulelani Sitsha, 19, from Ilinge and Selinathi Mnyaka, 19, from Sada.
All five boxers did well on the day and were promoted to fight professionally in their upcoming fights.
This takes a numbers of professional boxers from the Chris Hani District to 17; including the likes of African Boxing Union light heavyweight champion Luvuyo Sizani, who is also a bronze medallist in the Commonwealth Games hosted by Scotland in 2014 and former SA mini-flyweight champion, Xolisa Magusha.
Whittlesea-born Magusha is based in Mdantsane under Eyethu Boxing Club while Ilinge born Sizani is fighting for the Somerset Boxing Club in Somerset East.
Ilinge-born Sitsha is happy to turn professional but says it also means more hard work for the boxers.
“Obviously I am happy because it is something that I have been longing for ever since I started boxing. Being a professional boxer also means you have to work extremely hard and limit yourself from other things. I want to make sure when my first fight comes I will be in a great shape in terms of fitness,” said Sitsha.
“It is has been an incredible journey and a dream of ours to produce champions and we will continue to look after these upcoming Boxers,” said Mapeyi.
