The Eastern Cape boxing fraternity is mourning the tragic passing of former world champion, Zolani Marali.
The 44-year-old Mdantsane-born Marali was shot dead at his Johannesburg apartment on Friday night.
Details surrounding the incident are still sketchy at this stage.
“The Untouchable” as he was affectionately known, held the IBO junior lightweight, WBF junior featherweight and WBF junior welterweight titles. He also won a bronze medal at the 1999 All-Africa Games.
Marali hung up his gloves in October 2015 with a record 24 wins in 30 fights.
Boxing SA Provincial Manager Phakamile Jacobs says they’ve lost a charismatic fighter.
“uZolani, I know him from his armature ranks, way back in the late 90s. Zolani was in the team that was going to represent the country in the Olympics. But he couldn’t make it because he failed the medicals. After that he turned professional. Zolani had his own way of doing things because he loved boxing. And he was also exciting when going to the ring. May his soul rest in peace.”
