Boxing legend Mukandangalwo Madzivhandila will be honoured for his role in the development of boxing in Limpopo.
Madzivhandila, the first boxing promoter in the then Nothern Transvaal, unearthed the talent of world boxing champions such as Philip Ndou, Cassius Baloyi and Australian based Lovemore Ndou through the then Venda Boxing Promotions. Madzivhandila says he’s grateful for recognition.
Eighty-eight year Mukandangalwo “Tiger” Madzivhandila of Tshakhuma outside Thohoyandou has been involved in boxing since 1955.
He made impact in the sport in 1985, when he staged his first professional fight at Thohoyandou stadium where he used the lights of vehicles to ensure that the tournament continued until late.
He also made headlines when he staged an international title fight between Peter Malinga and Alberto Arano of Argentina at the University of Venda’s stadium in 1995.
That was the first boxing fight televised on TV in the then Northern Transvaal, now Limpopo.
Madzivhandila is a founder of the then Venda Boxing Association which was focusing on the development of amateur boxers and then Venda Boxing Promotion which focused on staging tournaments for professional boxers.
He says he’s grateful to be honoured for his role in boxing:
“I feel very proud indeed to be honoured by young people, so that young people must also follow suite. Young people need leaders to lead them, if the leaders are fighting among themselves there will be no boxing if the leaders are coming together forget about fighting positions then this boxing will definitely go forward.”
Boxers from other African countries, DRC and Tanzania, have been billed to fight in the Limpopo Champs Promotions to be held at Thohoyandou during the weekend.
Phathutshedzo Dongola of Limpopo Champs Promotions says they’re expecting a good tournament.
Khakhathi Ramutshi will fight Anthonio Masala of DRC for the WBF title.
A retired world boxing champion Cassius “Hitman” Baloyi started his boxing journey under chief Madzivhandila.
Baloyi says Chief Madzivhandila has had a good contribution in sport for Limpopo:
“I feel very happy because he’s going to be honoured when he is still alive, I’m very happy because I’m one of his products because I started with him many years ago in the 1980s with my dad. I was still an amateur when I started with him, boxing those days was not like today but he did a very good job in boxing for Limpopo, he is the very first promoter in Limpopo.”
The tournament to honour Madzivhandila will be staged at Thohoyandou town hall on Saturday evening.
Among the boxers to exchange blows in the tournament include, Pfariso Neluvhalana, Tshifhiwa “Timer Munyai and Dion Mbubane.
