Golden Gloves boss Rodney Berman has been missing the late boxing trainer and promoter Mzimasi ‘Bro Mzi’ Mnguni since the day he suffered from a stroke.
Berman said this in a recorded speech at the funeral service of the boxing icon at the St George’s Presbyterian Church in East London on Saturday.
Mnguni, who produced many South African and world champions, passed away at an East London hospital aged 73 last Saturday and is going to be buried in MaZotshweni village, Alice, on Sunday.
‘‘I would dearly have loved to be with you today for a very dear friend. But unfortunately, COVID put paid to that,’’ Berman said.
‘‘One time I was honoured to be present when he was the first inductee in the Eastern Cape for a legends blazer. Second, of course, was a tournament in East London where I saw the love and admiration from the people there.
‘‘When one puts into perspective Mzi’s achievements, it absolutely boggles the mind, training in a sparse gymnasium with the basic of equipment and yet producing great champions often winning their fights, winning their fights overseas.’’
Berman has not forgotten the night Welcome Ncita made history beating Spain-born Frenchman Fabrice Benichou to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-featherweight title.
‘‘The 10th of March 1990 saw the highlight of my career in boxing. The night welcome won the world title in Israel. It was also the first world champion for Mzi, who tragically couldn’t be there that night because of trouble in the then Ciskei. I think his shop was burnt down,’’ Berman said.
‘‘That night will forever be etched in our memory as the greatest night in our boxing history. I can’t say I will miss him because I actually have been missing him for the last five, six years. I will miss his counsel, I will miss his input. And interesting enough even when he was infirm I used to bring him to tournaments at Emperors Palace.’’
Berman also revealed that he never had a written contract with Mnguni in all the years they worked together.
‘‘Someone for 35 years I never had to go have a written contract between us. Such was the man his word was his bond and our work together was our written contract. He will be sorely missed,’’ Berman said.
The Johannesburg-based promoter concluded by saying that he is planning an annual Mzimasi Mnguni tournament.
