Who are the top fifty South African fighters of all time ? For those of you who retain, or have a keen interest in South African boxing, here is a historical article from the doyen of boxing writing from that proud boxing nation, Ron Jackson. He is a former contributor to The Ring and South …
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The Weekender
If you believe the hype and copy on world heavyweight contender Moses Itauma you’d think we have an emerging Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis all rolled into one ! The undefeated 20 year-old boxing out of Chatham, England is good, and to date, has massively impressed doing more than he should …
Ron’s Reflections
South African Boxing Hall of Fame When Chris Lessing died on June 1, 1976 at the age of 43 at Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg he left behind a superb collection of boxing books, autographed photos of famous boxers, 16mm films and museum memorabilia including statuettes, trophies and signed gloves. Subsequently his collection was donated …
The Friday Faceup
This is BIG. In the context of the 150+ year history of the Heavyweight Championship of the World, the fact that it fills Wembley Stadium, London with some 90,000 spectators, and, as they love to say, it’s “For all the marbles”. Factor in a worldwide TV audience, albeit the majority through the new phenomena of …
The Monday LunchBox
As a survivor from the last Benn-Eubank dust-ups, prior to a sensational Saturday night (26 April) at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, north London, I feel I’m well placed to put it into context. Firstly, the highest compliment I can give the enthralling twelve round middleweight non-championship fight is that “It was as good as any …
The Fight.
When I, and seldom others ask me, “So, what got you into boxing ?” I think; 1) about my father who loved and competed in the sport with a passion, and 2), back to April 15, 1985. Yes, it was exactly 40 years ago tonight ! That was the night in a temporary ring in …
Ron’s Reflections
Boxer with no hands In the first issue of Fight in December 1946, South Africa’s first boxing magazine the lead story was Fight’s Fighter of the month Johnny Le Roux. It was reported that Johnny Le Roux who was 25-years-old and quoted as one time light heavyweight amateur champion was trying to make a comeback …
Big George
Last Friday (21 March) was a momentous one to any sports fan of a certain age. We sadly lost supreme human being and two-times Heavyweight Champion of the World George Foreman, who passed away in his home state of Texas, USA at age 76. Over the last few days I’ve poured over countless articles which …
Ron’s Reflections
Story of Non-European amateur boxing Amateur boxing in South Africa began on the diamond fields in the 1880’s when the founder of the De Beers diamond monopoly, Barney Barnato established an amateur boxing club in 1878. The African mine workers were interested in these bare-knuckle fights on the mines. They watched the fights but did …
Ron’s Reflections
Strange happenings in the heavyweight championship In the 1850s and ‘60s the title of “middleweight” began to be used for all men below 156 lbs (70.75kg). Those above this limit were all considered heavyweights. It was not until the 1880s, after the widespread adoption of the Queensberry rules, that a real effort was made to …
The Undisputed 