The criteria used to determine which former boxers received an incentive from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has been explained.
Dr Cynthia Khumalo, the director-general at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, has explained at how they arrived at their decision to determine who was eligible to receive the R80 000 paid to 36 male and female legends.
Khumalo explained: “The living legend must still be alive and currently retired. The male legends must be over 45 years old and female legends must be at least 40 years. And bias would be mainly towards the older generation.”
Khumalo added: “For those legends whose professional boxing careers commenced post ’94, they must have been world champions or at least challenged for a world title. For those legends who were world champions, preference would be those who had multiple world titles and those who had the most title defences.”
The type of a world title that boxers held during their time in the professional ranks also played a massive role in making sure that they were considered for the R80 000 payment.
“For those legends who were world champions, consideration was the type of world title belts they held, how prestigious the belt was at the time,” Khumalo remarked.
Khumalo was referring to the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO). Even those who held World Boxing Union (WBU) titles were considered.
“For those legends whose careers commenced before 1994 they might not have necessarily been world champions, considering that at the time of their prime, SA sport sector was mainly isolated by the international sport community,” Khumalo said.
“For those legends of the pre-democratic era, they must have been SA champions, with multiple successful defences. They must have been the most domineering in their era and all. Their achievements must have been historic and unprecedented.
“Over and above, the other criterion already mentioned, the legend must have been the best pound for pound fighter of his/her time and such overall tenacity, indomitability, ring craft, fearlessness, charisma and appeal also considered as an added advantage.”
Elijah Makhathini, Thulani Malinga, Vuyani Bungu, Welcome Ncita, Cassius Baloyi, Mbulelo Botile, Mzonke Fana, Brian Mitchell, Harold Volbrecht, Isaac Hlatshwayo, Phillip Ndou, Takalani Ndlovu, Simphiwe Nongqayi, Masibulele Makepula, Zolile Mbityi, Mpush Makambi, Peter Malinga, William Gare, Silence Mabuza, Jan Bergman, Francois Botha, Jerry Ngobeni, Jacob Mofokeng, Ditau Molefyane, David Potsane, Nika Kumalo, Aladdin Stevens, Gregory Clark and Israel Khonkhobe qualified for the living legends category.
On female legends, Khumalo said: “Considering that female professional boxing was only officially permitted from 2007, the female boxing legends may not meet all the criteria, but the historical importance of their accomplishments and the barriers they broke through the journey of their career was considered. In coming up with the final list honoured, in their collective, the legends reflected SA’s diversity including gender, racial and geographic diversity.”
Noni Tenge, Sandra Almeida and Esther Mashiya were the three former female boxers, who were deemed to be legends.
Tenge held the World Boxing Federation (WBF) and IBF female welterweight titles while Almeida is a former SA female junior-welterweightand welterweight titlist. On the other hand, Mashiya is an erstwhile SA female junior-middleweight, middleweight and super-middleweight champion.
Meanwhile, former world champions Simphiwe Vetyeka, Moruti Mthalane and Malcolm Klassen received accolades in the special recognition category.
Hi. I’m very concerned the fact that Daniel Ward was never invited or nominated to be part of the legends!!
I mean Daniel Ward was SA champion. He was the first South African to win the Commonwealth title in 37 years!!
Please make me understand why Daniel Ward was not even mentioned?