Boxers say too few pro fights in Cape Town

After some road work, Olwethu Ngamlana, 24, walks into the Umanyano Boxing Club gym in Philippi. He picks up a skipping rope and chats with GroundUp while skipping.

“I’m going to the Emperor’s Palace to take on Thabang Ramogale. I’ve been preparing for a month now and I’m ready. I’m confident that he won’t make it past the fourth round out of the six we will be fighting.”

29-year-old Thanduxolo Gatyeni is excited at the prospect of going to fight in Johannesburg. Gatyeni says, “My opponent Ashley Dlamini is in trouble come Saturday. I will take him back to school by teaching him a lesson about boxing. I’m well prepared. I’ve been preparing since June, but we train everyday anyway, fight or no fight, so I’m ready.”

These two boxers from Umanyano Boxing Club last fought last year. Ngamlana who turned pro in 2009 has only six professional fights of which five are wins and one a loss. Gatyeni turned pro in 2007 and has 14 professional fights, 11 wins and three losses.

Both boxers say considering how long they have been professionals, they have a small number of fights. Both say this is due to a lack of boxing promoters in the province.

Thembelani Lingani who manages both boxers agrees. “We don’t have many promoters in Cape Town and those that we have either don’t want to work together for the good of the sport or they promote fights for personal gain. Most people see boxing as a way of making money. Even when some people organise amateur tournaments, they see it as a way to make a quick buck; there’s no passion.”

Ngamlana and Gatyeni hope that their fights this coming weekend will open doors for them. Ngamlana said, “I would like to go far in boxing, as far as fighting for a world title one day.”

Gatyeni on the other hand sees himself crowned champion before the end of this year. He said, “I would love to be a champion and hopefully by the end of the year, I will challenge for the title.”