EAST Rand Veterans Boxing Association (ERVBA) celebrated their 26 years of existence with a special celebration at the Primrose Bowling Club.
The boxing stars of yesteryear who entertained the spectators from the ring and made headlines in the newspapers and boxing magazines, including world champion Piet Crous, world kickboxing champion Shorne Moorcroft, amateur champion Hennie Jordaan and Manny dos Santos, joined in the celebration.
Other golden names present were Cyril Carroll’s daughter Helen Parker and Charl Sam, who co-founded the association with Johnny Habib and others.
The first committee chairman in 1989 was former amateur middleweight champion of the early 1950s Johnny Lubbe, who was succeeded by former South African junior middleweight champion, Coenie Bekker. Theuns van Rensburg succeeded Bekker until his death, when Nigel Pera took over the chair in June, 1998.
Pera, ERVBA’s chairman for the past 17 years, chaired the 26th anniversary celebration afternoon and evening by looking back on the establishment and history of the association. Ciska Crous was the special guest artist.
ERVBA is one of three veterans boxing associations in the country; the other two are based in Pretoria and Durban.
The association has meetings every second Thursday of the month at the Primrose Bowling Club from 20:00.
To join the association phone Willie Stols on 083 632 4233 or Pera on 078 404 6319.
For more information e-mail eastrandveterans@gmail.com or visit www.ervba.co.za