DAVID ISAACSON | Save the Great White-Collar Hope

Has Gwede Mantashe taken over the running of professional boxing in this country?

The philosophy of Mr Fossil Fuel, who is dragging his feet when it comes to signing up independent power producers, is being applied pretty much wholesale in the fisticuffs game. 

Boxing SA (BSA) says it no longer wants white-collar fighters trying out for professional licences.

The message was passed down by BSA’s Gauteng provincial manager Hloks Ramagole ahead of the scheduled February 11 sparring where aspirants for the paid ranks will bid to impress the panel of judges. 

“The sparring is open for males and females from open boxing affiliated with Sanabo,” his statement read. The SA National Boxing Organisation oversees open and amateur boxing in the country. 

“NO WHITE COLLAR BOXER WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY,” Ramagole screamed further in caps. 

Hackles rose throughout the sport. 

White-collar boxers are unlikely to become world superstars, but have you seen the standard of many SA amateurs?

I understand the thinking behind BSA’s stipulation. The Boxing Act that governs the professional game references Sanabo as its feeder system.

Furthermore, a recently signed memorandum of understanding between BSA and Sanabo demands exclusivity for the amateur body, or so I’ve been told. 

But that’s like telling people they can only use electricity generated by Eskom, the health of which is roughly on the same level as Sanabo.

The federation has been through hell, pretty much self-inflicted, and I must admit I feel a bit sorry for the relatively new executive of this punch-drunk Titanic. 

But then I speak to boxers and trainers who say the organisation of local events is as bad as ever, with some eager fighters heading to scheduled tournaments only to find that there are no opponents for them in their weight categories. 

These disappointments happen week after week, and it is probably worth pointing out that for club shows Sanabo cannot be held responsible. But that is the reality.  

White-collar boxing emerged as a way for corporate big wigs to see how the other half live and throw a bit of leather. 

But given the problems would-be amateurs have experienced to get action, the white-collar ring has offered them an alternative. 

White-collar has provided some useful fighters to the professional game, such as recently dethroned SA heavyweight champion Chris Thompson. 

The Mantashe-lytes might argue that Thompson lost the belt in his first defence to Keaton Gomes, who did have amateur experience. But Juan Roux also had some amateur experience, albeit minimal, and he lost the belt in his first defence too.

Former SA amateur heavyweight champion Wilhelm Nebe was stopped by Roux in the paid ranks. Amateur experience guarantees nothing. 

And then you get Kevin Lerena who never had an amateur fight. 

Make no mistake, I believe in the importance of boxers being groomed as amateurs, but the level of South African dysfunction mitigates for plans B, C, D, E, F and so on. 

South Africa needs decent boxers, more independent power suppliers and fewer stupid regulations

White-collar boxers are unlikely to become world superstars, but have you seen the standard of many SA amateurs?

The sport needs a major overhaul. If it were up to me I’d move into Soweto and Mdantsane and set up boxing clubs linked to every school in the townships, all of them manned by decent coaches. 

Every weekend there would be tournaments so the young boxers could get experience and improve. 

I do fear, however, the effects on the sport if boxing gets booted from the Olympics ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, but that’s another story.

Right now many fighters coming out of the amateurs are not up to scratch. 

Yet BSA decides to give Sanabo exclusivity. If Sanabo was healthy and amateur boxing was thriving, I probably wouldn’t mind. 

But the reality is different. And if BSA is arguing it is bound by the Act, I would counter that the legislation is out of date, especially since it was written before the advent of the white collar phenomenon. 

By cutting out white-collar fighters — and there are some promising ones in the gyms — BSA is reducing its already-limited feeding ground and ultimately the regulator is denying the ticket-paying fans some of the best fighters. 

If I were a white-collar boxer wanting to turn professional, I would go to the licence sparring on February 11 (it’s being held on different dates in other parts of the country) and chance my arm anyway. 

South Africa needs decent boxers, more independent power suppliers and fewer stupid regulations.