Kwa-Thema – The flyweight African Boxing Union champion, Simangele Hadebe, was crowned female boxer of the year at the South African Boxing Awards.
The Durban ICC hosted the sporting award ceremony on Friday.
Hadebe vied for the award alongside Bukiwe Nonina from East London and Hedda Wolmarans from Gauteng.
The boxers’ supporters nominated them, and the Boxing South Africa adjudication committee selected the winners of the 15 categories.
In 2018, Hadebe was nominated for the same category but did not win. The 29-year-old said she still could not believe she won the award.
“This proves my hard work is recognised and has finally paid off,” she said.
Hadebe joined a backyard boxing club, Geo Maroon Boxing Club, in Kwa-Thema in 2014.
“At the time, I was an athlete and wanted to use the gym to exercise when I was not on the track. It was at the club where I met my coach Themba Zulu, who identified my talent and encouraged me to fight competitively,” she explained.
She used the sport to educate young people about abuse and encourage families to stop sweeping abusive behaviour by family members under the carpet.
“A lot still has to be done to fight abuse in this country. It is for us who know and understand the pain to be at the forefront of the fight,” she added.
The boxer of the year is preparing for the WBC International title against Mexico’s Melisa Meraz.
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