By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Erstwhile world champion Mhikiza ‘Showtime’ Myekeni passed away on Thursday morning after losing his battle against cancer.
The sad news of the passing away of the former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) flyweight and South African junior-flyweight champion was confirmed by All Winners Boxing Club boss Mlandeli Tengimfene.
“It is with great sadness to announce the passing on of Mhikiza Monelisi “Showtime” Myekeni this morning (Thursday),” Tengimfene said.
Myekeni made his professional debut with a win over Mbuyiselo Paki in August 1997 and went on to record an eight-fight winning streak, which came to a halt when he was defeated by Indonesian Anis Roga in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) Intercontinental junior-flyweight title contest in August 2000.
He bounced back after that loss and won the SA junior-flyweight title when he defeated Vuyisile Bebe at East London’s Orient Theatre in November 2001.
Myekeni went on to win the IBO junior-flyweight crown after he defeated Colombian Jose Garcia Bernal at the Carnival City in Brakpan in April 2002.
He retired after losing to Thai boxer Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in a World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title fight in November 2006.
After retirement, Myekeni started training boxers. Former IBF junior-bantamweight and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight titlist Zolani ‘Last Born’ Tete was one of the boxers who were trained by Myekeni.
