Gerdview boxer Grant Fourie (32) recently claimed the South African junior welterweight championship title.
This was after his 12-round fight against Warren Joubert, at the Young Guns Box and Dine tournament, at Emperors Palace, on July 31.
“It feels great to have won that title, it has been a long journey,” said Fourie.
“I came back to the ring only last year, after I took a year off because I suffered from glandular fever.
“It is an illness that attacks your immune system, especially if it is flat, and it makes some feel tired, while others suffer with headaches, there are different symptoms.
“I kept getting ill; we would train and I would get very sick and be unable to fight on a continuous basis; it was just better for me to take a break, as I kept pushing my body too much.
“At some point it got so bad that I considered retirement.”
Fourie told the GCN that the desire to go back and fight for a title helped him get back on his feet.
“During the break I kept watching other fights and I had the urge to go back, because I was never happy, because I never got a title,” he said.
“It was my main goal as a professional boxer, to get a title, so it was always grinding me to have a comeback.”
The Gerdview champion has been a professional boxer for seven years.
“I was an amateur boxer for five years before going pro; I have won a number of South African amateur championships,” he explained.
Fourie trains at the Hammers Gym, in Boksburg, and is sponsored by DTF Security and Adidas Fight Wear.
The local fighter also said there are few people and fighters he looks up to, as he believes that, in life, you need to be your own person.
“I believe in self-discovery, which is one of the reasons I did a life coach course,” he added.
“I did the course through York Academy, in Midrand, in 2014.
“It is important, as a person, to know who you are and what you want in life.
“I also co-own an events company with my wife, Monique, but she runs the company.”
Fourie offered a few words of motivation to aspiring boxers
“Train hard and keep your head off the streets and out of trouble,” he advised.
“A big thank you to Hoërskool Vryburger High School, my former school, for allowing me to do my field work on their premises.
“Thank you to friends and family, supporters and everybody who came out to cheer me on when I got the title.
“Another big thank you to my two daughters, Bree (7) and Demi (3); they are my little cheerleaders at home.”
Fourie concluded that winning the title meant a lot to him.
“It goes down to the history books; I have accomplished something that leaves a legacy for my children,” he said.
“It opens a lot of doors for me, as I would like to go for a world title.
“Whoever is up for the challenge and wants to fight me, I am ready.”
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