We have been promosing you since a while that we would start telling stories about Mdantsane's boxing history and the famous boxers the township has produced over decades. And Siyanda Nkoyeni has written the first story for us. Here it is.
It is a fact that Mdantsane is famous for boxing
and has produced not only South African but many world champions as well, and
thus has placed South Africa on the world map. There are many stories as to why
boxing is popular in the Eastern Cape and mainly in Mdantsane, but there is one
thing for sure that the sport is like a culture in the province.
Over the years
champions came and went, and many local boxing fans will agree that the name
Nkosana "Happy Boy" Mgxaji, is so synonymous with boxing in Mdantsane
that the history of the sport cannot be told without mentioning his name.
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| Happy Boy Mgxaji at his prime |
The huge attendance by hundreds of boxing fans at
his funeral, from all over South Africa on 13 February 2011 at Sisa Dukashe
stadium, was a true testimony to this man's stature in the sporting frartenity.
Mention must be made that it was only befitting for this Mdantsane hero to be
buried in the same venue where he used to mesmirise his fans with this boxing
skills.
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| Some are taking refuge under their umbrellas from the sun at the Grand Stand during Mgaxji's Funeral |
Born in Tsolo location in 1949, a black township
just outside East London, Mgxaji came from a poor family where his mother sold
vegetables for a living. Like many township kids at the time, Mgxaji did not go
far in school and dropped out in standard six.
He grew up in the rough
neighbourhood where he took up the sport of boxing so as to defend himself, and
also later to earn a living to help his struggling mother, unbeknown to him
that this was the beginning of his illustrous boxing career.
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| Former boxers forming a guard of honor at Mgaxaji funeral |
It was the 1963 amateur championships in Port
Elizabeth, that Mgxaji's star started to shine, and where boxing officails took
note of this wonder kid from Mdanstane. He became an amateur champion that same
year and in 1968 turned professional, remaining unbeated untli 1971.
"Happy Boy", a name bestowed to him by
his brother, Nzimande Douglas Mgxaji, was known to be a fitness fanatic and
disciplinarian, a reason why he never had a trainer. He preferred to work out
alone and only strategised when facing the opponents in the ring. Mgxaji fought many memorable fights and had
an incredible record of 101 professional fights, winnng 88, with 27 KO's, drew
4 and lost 9.
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| Dignitairies and MEC's also attended the funeral |
Those old enough will tell you that there was
only one reason why large crowds of boxing fans would descend upon Sisa Dukashe
stadium in the 1970's and 80's on Sartudays afternoons, only to watch Happy
Boys' boxing craft in the ring. Sadly, like many local boxers, Happy Boy died a
pauper due to an asthma attack at the age of 61. Driving down Qumza Highway,
his house in NU 3 casts a monumental picture of this trailblazer's history.
A Story By Siyanda Nkonyeni
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