Boxing SA

To All Boxing SA Promoters and Friends of the Knoble Art

Dear Friends of boxing

In the good old days, the Heavyweights, the world through, were the kings, not only of boxing, but of all and sundry. The Heavyweight division was one by which all of boxing standards were measured. Boxing fundis would tell you that there was boxing, and then there was Heavyweight boxing. The Heavyweight champion of the world was regarded as the toughest man or “the baddest man on the Planet “The fights were exciting and, without having to look outside our shores, appetites were always filled with the on your face brawling styles of Kallie Knoetzee, the bionic right hands of the Gerrie Coetzees, the never say die all exciting styles of your Mike Schuttes, and the smooth moves of the small but tough James Mathatho. Could we ever forget our man mountain Jimmy Abbot?

There were beliefs, rightly or wrongly that these were the best fighters in the world. Those arguments could be forgiven just because of the value these giants brought to the game. They were believed to be the biggest and hardest punching human beings on earth. As long as they were in the ring, where one punch could reshape the brains and the face – features of the opponent plus the direction of the fight at any time, you always expected something spectacular - you were seldom disappointed.

Sadly those days are gone. What remains is only memories. It was therefore natural that when seventeen boxers clicked the scale at the Heavyweight limit when they turned professional at the beginning of this year 2008, our expectations and interests were rekindled. We got so motivated we thought that maybe, just maybe, we could turn back the clock and relive the glory days.

It is in that spirit that we call on all proud South Africans, from all our spheres of life - political, commercials, social etc to assist in the resurrection of this sleeping giant so that it can roar all over again. We kindly invite all our promoters to put forward proposals for a BSA / SABC DEVELOPMENT Heavyweight One Day Tournament scheduled for November 11 2008.

This Project, which will be shown live on SABCSPORT (Blow by Blow ) will be called THE HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER and will feature 20 selected Heavyweights who will contest in an elimination basis which will leave one winner. There will be prizes and incentives, firstly for contesting, secondly for winning to the next level, with the final winner getting the big prize to be announced.

Promoters are advised to go out look for financial or any other kind of assistance and put forward proposals to BSA, that will make the event a huge success in terms of;

1. Venue - that can contain such a gigantic task in terms of accommodating and catering for all the crews from around the country, as well as dignitaries from government and the business world who will surely attend.
2. Marketing - to professionally inform all and sundry and make this a day to remember.
3. Sponsorship - that will carry the event in terms of all payments of the event plus the prizes and incentives to the contestants.
4. Incentive - the promoter must also specify how much payment he/she proposes for each level until the final prize.
5. Because of the magnitude of the event the promoter could also consider a box and dine type of arrangement.

The winning promoter will be announced at 12:00 on Tuesday 5 August 2008 at the BSA offices in Nasrec.

All proposals must be handed to the BSA offices or sent by email to loyiso@boxingsa.co.za.noThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it later than 10:00 on Tuesday 5 August 2008.

Thanking you in advance

Loyiso Mtya

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