With only five fights under his belt as a professional boxer, he lost his way and found himself spending eight years in jail, putting a dent in what had looked like a promising boxing career.
With only five fights under his belt as a professional boxer, he lost his way and found himself spending eight years in jail, putting a dent in what had looked like a promising boxing career.
Now 33, Sonwabo ‘Born Fighter’ Twatwa still believes there's a space he needs to fill in the boxing world.
The bantamweight, who fights under Mfuzo Boxing Camp, had been in the ring only five times as a professional when he was arrested in 2006.
He is not comfortable talking about the crime. He was released in September last year and immediately went back to the boxing gym, hoping to turn his life around.
Seven months later he successfully made a comeback in the ring by destroying Former Eastern Cape flyweight champion Xolani Mpushe with a third-round TKO.
The occasion was a non-title fight in Port Elizabeth on 2 May. 'Born Fighter' says he learnt a big life lesson while 'on the inside' and now wants to make the most of the opportunity he’s been given.
“The best thing you can do in life is face your mistakes and acknowledge them, correct them and move on in order to become a better person.
“I know I did wrong things that put me there (in jail). But to be in prison does not mean you failed in life: I got up because I have dream I needed to chase," said Twatwa.
"All should know the champ is back now.” Before turning pro in 2005, Twatwa said, he was a regular medal winner in the South African amateur squad.
Although at 33, age is not on his side, he still dreams of having a boxing belt around his waist.
Twatwa has had six professional fights, winning four, drawing one and losing one.
While his style is orthodox, he says many of his peers and those who’ve seen him in the ring compare him to Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.
“He is my role model and even when I visited Mdantsane recently they called me South Africa’s Pacquiao,” said Twatwa.
His message, he says, is for every promoter out there to take a closer look at him and provide him with ring opportunities as he attempts to make up for lost time.
He is not sure when he will be on the ring next, but has warned every bantamweight boxer to be wary.
