Twenty-five-year-old Akira Solomon ventured into bigtime promotion in September this year after engaging herself in white-collar charity fights for almost two years.
She entered the game with a bang by staging an attractive 10-round main fight – and several support bouts – featuring America’s Ronald Ellis against DR Congo’s South Africa-based Patrick “The Panther” Mukala who scored a unanimous points victory over Ellis at the Booysens Boxing Camp in Johannesburg.
Mukala, who is trained by Akira’s mother, Jodi Solomon, went on to clinch the International Boxing Association (IBA) Africa middleweight title via a fifth round knockout win over Namibia’s Paulinus Ndjolonimus in IBA Champions’ Night contest in Dubai in December, 2024.
“The Mukala vs Ellis was my biggest event yet, it was an honour to host such an exciting international match-up at my first professional boxing event that had the audience on their feet,” says Akira with a deserved sense of pride.
Akira’s mum, Jodi Solomon, is so proud of her daughter hosting the well attended card.
“Akira definitely introduced herself to the world of professional boxing with an excellent fight card,” says Jodi in an interview with her in Dubai during the IBA Champions’ Night card.
“She was able to pull it off in style and make her presence felt in boxing. My daughter is a very strong capable woman with an excellent knack for business.”
While accepting pro boxing business is tough for all promoters at the moment in South Africa, Jodi points out procuring sponsorship as a woman has its challenges.
“It’s slightly harder to get to males in corporates to believe in a woman in boxing as it is traditionally a male-dominated sport,” explains Jodi.
Despite the challenges, Akira is moving on with her head high up, excited for the prospects ahead in 2025.
She talks proudly on her promotion company known as Seconds Out.
“I think Seconds Out brings a new audience and excitement in pro boxing in South Africa,” says Akira, adding: “Our focus is on empowering the boxers, and telling their stories allows our audience members to feel connected to the sport and the fighters they support.We are excited about the entertainment and sporting collaborations we have to offer.”
Commenting on the few sponsors in Africa willing to support pro boxing, Akira says:”One of the main factors why sponsors have not poured money for African promoters is the difficulty in getting the TVs involved in South Africa and Africa in general. Much as sponsors want to help they need exposure to promote their products, and if they’re not getting enough mileage it becomes difficult for them to come on board.
“They also do need to be educated that boxing is not a violent sport as some of them think, it’s a sport which is governed by its own rules and regulations.”
As a result of lack of enough sponsors, Akira says African boxers don’t normally receive good purses.
“The financial climate in South Africa and Africa as a whole is not very healthy but my goal is to pay boxers well what I can afford. Promoters should also work together to enable us empower our boxers, unfortunately some promoters are aren’t prepared to work together and assist each other.”
I ask Akira what motivates her in this challenging business of pro boxing promotion?
“I have been in boxing my entire life, my mum was the first female manager in South Africa, she’s now internationally recognized as a trainer.
“I love boxing I really enjoy it. I started entrapreunership when I went to University and I love managing and creating new ideas. I felt this was an avenue I could manage to come up with new creative ideas while still being part of the sport I love.”
Does she have any boxers in her stable now?
“I don’t have boxers under my stable at the moment, we’re still very new in the business,” says Akira.
“We need to get pro boxers a couple of fights before I sign any of them. However with time we hope to add value to pro boxing in South Africa.”
