Boxing legends honoured at Champions Night

The members of the association meet every month at the Primrose Bowling Club.

“We have meetings every second Thursday of the month,” said the association’s public relations officer, Willie Stols.

“We usually have a guest speaker at our meetings and, afterwards, we talk about boxing over refreshments.”

Among other things, the association assists former boxers with medical, rental, electricity and funeral costs.

Stols also said that the Champions Night marked the last meeting for the year.

“Every year, in October, we host a Champions Night, where we try and not only remember, but also honour and recognise our home-grown champions,” he said.

The association’s chairman, Nigel Pera, explained to all those present that the night is not aimed only at champions.

“This is a champions’ and challengers’ night, because without the challengers or contenders there wouldn’t be champions,” he said.

“The challengers also need to be honoured; they are just as important.”

Pera also emphasised the purpose of the association.

“We are here to help former boxers who need financial and psychological assistance,” he said.

“A lot of guys need our help out there, but our work requires funding and we try to raise funds wherever we can.

“Our sponsors are doing a great job as well, as they put money into our account every month, which goes a long way; we are eternally grateful for that.

“The raffles and auctions we run at our monthly meetings are another way of raising funds.”

The night’s guest speaker was Chris van Heerden, who is the IBO welterweight world champion, competing in the USA.

“I am honoured to be in the midst of legends, most of whom I looked up to as a child,” said van Heerden.

“You guys have been a true inspiration to us youngsters, we look up to you.

“I started my professional boxing career in 2006 and have been going hard at it ever since.

“I moved to and started competing in America in 2013 and, although I am based overseas, I remain proudly South African.

“As South Africans, we have what it takes to fight world champions and even become world champions and raise the South African flag up high.”