INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed boxing legend, Floyd Mayweather, honoured South Africa's boxing legends with a banquet at the Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday, 15 July.
The event also aimed to raise funds for South African youth in boxing through Mayweather's Youth Empowerment Programme.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Zizi Kodwa, gave an address at the function, which focused on the rich legacy of South African boxing and opportunities to revive it.
He said he is honoured that Mayweather chose to come to South Africa to honour the country’s boxing legends.
“South Africa has a vast and rich boxing heritage. For decades, this country has produced world title winning boxers. From the likes of Dingaan Thobela, Brian Mitchell, Vuyani Bungu, Welcome Ncita, Cassius Baloyi, Phillip Ndou to the late Baby Jake Matlala, Corrie Sanders and Gerrie Coetzee to name a few, South African boxing has long been entrenched in this country’s sporting heritage,” he said.
He said boxing was also the late President Nelson Mandela’s favourite sport.
“It is fitting that you are honouring South Africa’s boxing legends tonight, a few days before Mandela Day, where we honour the legacy of this great man,” he said.
Kodwa expressed his desire to see South African boxing return to the heights it once enjoyed.
He said he dreams to see emerging boxers in the country being inspired by this country’s rich boxing heritage and continue the path of further entrenching South Africa’s boxing heritage.
“Your endeavour to honour South Africa’s boxing legends is timely, Floyd. It is not only further proof of the esteemed legacy of South African boxing, it is also a timely reminder of how widely South African boxing is received and just how much work needs to be done to elevate South African boxing to the levels it used to enjoy,” he said.
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Kodwa said he hopes that the event further motivates all efforts to return South African boxing into the hearts and souls of everyone in this country.
“It is also my hope, Floyd, that your relationship with South Africa continues. Boxing in this country can only benefit by having people of your experience and stature supporting it and keeping the consciousness of just how deep the legacy of boxing is in South Africa. Thank you for honouring our legends this evening. You have no idea how much of an excitement and boost you are giving to South African boxing,” he said.
