IS BOXING AS A SPORT DEAD?

There is still confusion out there on whether to pronounce the sport of boxing dead or alive. In today’s world, there are lot of sporting codes, all competing to get the attention from every form of media, be it newspapers, magazines, radio, television and now the internet. Some manage to get their share of spotlight like soccer, boxing, rugby, cricket and athletics, while others don’t make it.

But the truth of the matter is that boxing is far from dead. Our beloved sport boasts about the biggest names in the game. Seven division world champion, Manny Pacquiao and “The Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, are the biggest stars of this sport, who fill the arenas whenever they have fights. Recently, MGN GRAND, in LAS VEGAS, USA, was filled to capacity (a reported 51000 spectators) when Floyd Mayweather defeated “Sugar” Shane Mosley in a non- title fight.

And here at home, we have three IBF World champions in Simphiwe “The Golden Master” Nongqayi, Moruti “The Babyface” Mthalane, and Nkosinathi “Mabhere” Joyi, with a strong possibility of the fourth one where Mzonke Fana and Cassius Baloyi will be contesting for the vacant IBF World Junior Lightweight title at a date and venue still to be confirmed. Nkosinathi Joyi filled the International Convention Centre in East London to capacity (more than 2000 boxing fans) when he challenged for the IBF World miniflyweight title. We also have a number of Africa, International and World champions in other world bodies like WBO, IBO and WBF.

So can anyone say boxing is dead? The answer is a big NO!!!