A journey which started decades ago has come to an end as one of the most experienced and accomplished ring officials in the world, Siya Vabaza-Booi, has resigned to concentrate on serving boxing in another capacity.
Vabaza-Booi will now concentrate on her duties as a World Boxing Federation (WBF) representative in Africa and being a member of the Boxing South Africa (BSA) sanctioning committee.
“I have tendered my resignation as a ring official,” the award-winning Vabaza-Booi confirmed on Monday.
It was not an easy journey for the boxing fundi to become a ring official as it was a terrain dominated by males at the time and she faced numerous stumbling blocks.
“I fought a lot before becoming a ring official. I encountered a lot of stumbling blocks with people blocking me from becoming a ring official. Only Loyiso Mtya backed me throughout. I only became a fully fledged official in 1994,” Vabaza-Booi said.
Vabaza-Booi travelled all over the world doing duty for the World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF), International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and World Boxing Union (WBU).
“I officiated in North and South America. I have also officiated in Europe,” Vabaza-Booi concluded.
