Boxing fraternity mourns the passing of revered former referee and judge

Days after the death of the legendary Len Hunt‚ local boxing officials are still struggling to come to terms with the revered former referee and judge’s passing.

His wife Wendy told TimesLIVE that the 79 year old had an operation at Linksfield Hospital on Wednesday but never recovered‚ passing away on Saturday.

"Len's stomach gave him big troubles‚" she said.

Known as a soft-spoken but forthright official in his time inside the ring‚ Hunt was forced to take a break from the sport he served with distinction for well over 40 years when his stomach started to give him a lot of discomfort.

During that time‚ the internationally renowned official was serving the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) as its Championship Supervisor in Africa. He was appointed to that position by Florida-USA based IBO president Ed Levine.

Boxing SA chairperson Muditambi Ravele reacted with shock when told about his passing and said the sport has lost one of its greatest servants.

"What! This is news to me‚ when did that happen?‚” a stunned Ravele said.

“I haven’t seen him for quite some time. What a loss."

Ravelle conceded that local boxing did not take full advantage of Hunt’s deep knowledge and understanding of the sport and more should have been done to tap into his expertise.

"Len goes with massive knowledge of boxing.

"We wish he had imparted his knowledge to Andile Matika‚ who is now the IBO Championship Supervisor.

“What I remember Len for was his passion for the sport and his manner of approach to issues. He had his way of trying to find a solution.

"Len would approach me many times when he was unhappy rather than to hear his complaint from other people.

“He would come direct to me. He would also convey the message of happiness to me when a solution had been found. Len will be deeply missed."

Many will remember Hunt for standing up to Stan Christodoulou style of leadership when the latter was still the chairperson of then SA Boxing Commission.

BSA Gauteng manager Archie Nyingwa reminisced about the past and recalled the times when they challenged the status quo.

"I remember us (Hunt‚ Carlos Jacamo‚ Jeff Ellis‚ Obed Molewa and other guys) travelling in my mini bus taxi from Durban where we had met stakeholders.

“Jeff was driving and we had a puncture. We went together to most provinces to influence stakeholders to stand up against dictatorship. The boxing fraternity will miss Len badly."

Ellis - now a promoter under the banner of African Ring - described Hunt as a stalwart who lived‚ ate‚ and walked boxing.

"Len and his wife gave their hearts and souls to boxing. Len was a boxing man through and through. It is very sad to lose him. May his soul rest in peace‚" said Ellis.

Former multiple world champion Dingaan "The Rose of Soweto" Thobela said: "We woke up and wished each other a Happy Father's Day unaware that another father has missed this day.

"That is sad not only to his family but to us the boxing people because Len was one of us."

Veteran boxing writer Ron Jackson said Hunt first applied to be a promoter in 1970.

"In those days they were much stricter and he sat at ringside for two years‚ filling in dummy scorecards.

“He then wrote a tough two-hour examination‚ which he passed before being allowed to officiate.

“About 18 months later he had to write another exam to qualify to referee and judge.”

Hunt refereed and judged South African and intercontinental bouts but rather sadly never received an appointment to officiate in any fight of the four major organisations - the WBA‚ WBC‚ WBO and IBF.

Eventually he approached the WBU and was appointed to referee a number of fights.

- TimesLIVE