SOUTH AFRICAN PROMOTER NOMVELO EXCITED ON REVITALISATION OF FEMALE PRO BOXING
A wind of change is steadily blowing in South Africa’s female pro boxing scene which is set for a massive revitalisation.
The appointment of a new South African Board under the chairmanship of boxing guru Sifiso Shongwe coupled with renowned Attorney, Nande Mheshe, being appointed the Chairlady of the Women in Boxing Committee is viewed as the long awaited catalyst that will catapult female boxing in Mzansi Nation to dizzy heights of success and fame.
The presence of the industrious and well-connected Mheshe will definitely breathe a new life in female boxing and add more vigour in the Rise of Women in Boxing Series aimed at unearthing new talent, exposure and attracting sponsorship by increasing the visibility of female boxing especially through their partnership with the vibrant gsport4girls, an online publication that extensively reports on women’s sport in South Africa.
Excited female promoters are looking forward with great expectations the speedy growth of women’s boxing now that the dynamic Mheshe is in the driver’s seat.
Nomvelo Magcaba Shezi is one of South Africa’s top female promoters impressed by the changes in the board and the appointment of Mheshe to steer the ship out of turbulent waters.
“We as female promoters are very happy with the changes and having one of our own to lead the Women in Boxing Committee,” Nomvelo told boxersworld.co.ke in a telephone interview.
“The Rise of Women in Boxing series is going on very well, and there are many female boxers now than before even though people are not that convinced about it but slowly they’re starting to feature women in their bills and boxing fans are enjoying women bouts.”
Nomvelo co-staged one of the Rise of Women Boxing Series card on December 17, 2024 at PMB City Hall in Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal, describing the show as a masterclass. She co-staged the women’s-only card with Zandile Malinga of Starline promotions and Hlengiwe Dladla of Hle-Jobe promotions.
“The all-women card was very exciting and successful, the bill was all quality boxing, the best vs the best,” says Nomvelo.
In the main fight, Nociacwase Dube outpointed defending South Africa junior-bantamweight champion Thema Zuma to be crowned the new champion.
Commenting on the fight, Nomvelo says: “Nosiacwase was more than prepared, she was fit, confident and skillful, she was also the aggressor scoring more punches than the champion and showing she was more hungry for the national title.
“The objective was to promote women boxing in our Province Kwazulu-Natal as well as creating an awareness of our goal in female boxing. This is in line with plans of South Africa board to give women more opportunities and exposure since it’s rare to see women’s-only fights in South Africa.”
A former boxer herself, Nomvelo turned pro in 2011 and stepped out of the ring in 2016 fighting at junior bantamweight class. She quit pro boxing in a huff because of lack of regular fights, a problem that has bedevilled the country ever since the legalisation of women’s boxing in 2001 by the South African government.
“I decided to retire because it was hard to get fights, I just felt it’s pointless training everyday without getting fights,” says Nomvelo, adding: “Female boxers have been overlooked by promoters in South Africa for a long time, there’s also a disparity in their payment compared to what male boxers are earning.
“Thanks to Boxing South Africa and Department of Sport, Art and Culture for this initiative of Women in Boxing and as female promoters we are trying our best to assist women boxers and give them more fights. Having gone through this mental torture I want to improve the situation now as a promoter.”
On quitting pro boxing, Nomvelo became a promoter in 2017 and the following year ventured into the challenging task of staging fights.
“The name of my company is Mvelo Promotions, I host both male and female boxers. I have so far staged 11 pro cards. I’m doing well, I won the Best Aspiring Promoter Award in Boxing SA awards, and among the big fights I’ve staged is my last fight of Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane, I’ve also hosted WBC silver title and produced more than 10 champions.”
Nomvelo is not in boxing by accident. Boxing runs deep in the family’s blood as she told me.”I started boxing at the age of four years trained by my uncle Alex Mchunu former Kwazulu-Natal heavy weight champion, and also a father to Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu who’s the South Africa champion and former WBC silver champion, I had 54 fights as an amateur before I turned professional.”
While the South African promoters feel female boxing has been overlooked, they should know that the situation is the same in most African countries.
Infact they’re doing better than their counterparts in other African countries with over 20 female promoters in South Africa including the youngest of them all Akira Solomon who is 25 years old.That’s the highest number of female promoters in Africa in one country.
Coupled with the fact that South Africa is the professionsl boxing capital of Africa, they will definitely make inroads in the male-dominated sport aided by the managerial acumen of the new ambitious Chairlady of Women in Boxing Committee Nande Mheshe.
Mbali “Don Queen” Zantsi is the first female South African promoter, and is fondly remembered for promoting the first ever women’s-only card in Durban on August 10, 2007, featuring five talented female boxers among them five-time world champion Noni Tenge aka “She Bee Stinging” and Unathi Myekeni, all of them winning their four rounders. They went on to win WBF featherweight and welterweight titles respectively.
For her exemplary performance in the ring, the then Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, presented Tenge with a brand new car for becoming the first women’s world champion in Africa by stopping New Zealander Daniella Smith in the fifth round to win the IBF welterweight title at Carnival City in 2011. In addition to the new car, Tenge also received one million South African Rand from Mbalula..
