Three local boxers in the Eastern Cape amateur team took part in a friendly inter-provincial tournament recently, and came home to much praise after being named the best team.
Three local boxers in the Eastern Cape amateur team took part in a friendly inter-provincial tournament recently, and came home to much praise after being named the best team. Last Saturday the tournament held in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, organised by the Eastern Cape Amateur Boxing Organisation (Ecabo), saw one local boxer return with a gold medal around her neck and another fight his last match as an amateur. Zikhona the killing machine Skeyi returned from the tournament against KZN victorious after winning her three rounds on points. The featherweight champion said that the KZN boxers were fit and strong, but were no match for the Eastern Cape team members. The Eastern Cape received an award for being the best team of the tournament, she told italGrocott's Mail/ital. Another local boxer on the team, Bongani Mabona who lost due to points in the third round, said that the Eastern Cape played very well and he hoped that it would continue to do so. He also said that even though he's only in the junior middle weight group, he had to box in the group above his weight, so he felt that this might have contributed to his loss. However, this was Mabona's last fight as an amateur and next Saturday he is scheduled to go to Motherwell in Port Elizabeth to be officially signed up as a professional boxer. The third local, Thandile Mayi, received a bronze medal even though he didn't fight against anyone in the tournament. He said this was because there were no opponents available to challenge him in the straw weight category. It was a great tournament and I hope they will do it again so that I can fight next time and show my fighting skills, Mayi said.
