Fitness fanatics pay tribute to late legend, Theunis Kok
Determined to keep his memory alive, the team decided to take part in the Warrior Race to honour their hometown hero.
The Newcastle Airtime Obstacle Park team recently competed in the Warrior Race in Gauteng – an event that tested them to the limits of their endurance.
For the team, however, it was all about paying tribute to one of South Africa’s most exciting light heavyweights – Newcastle’s won late, great Theunis Kok, who died earlier this year, aged 65 after suffering a heart attack.
Kok, a former Natal light heavyweight champion made his pro debut on February 27, 1978, at the West Ridge Tennis Stadium in Durban, defeating William Mandyu in a third-round knockout.
This exciting and powerful southpaw puncher defeated Johan Ticky Nel, Kid Jackson Hlongwana, Bruce McIntyre, Willem Smily Giesing, Vedat Akova, Mervin Smit and Martin Barnard before facing Dwight Muhammad Qaw (Braxton).
Kok finished his career with a respectable 14-5 record, 12 of which came against some of the toughest light heavyweights around at the time.
Despite his retirement, Kok remained an active sports and health enthusiast, regularly training and assisting long-time friend, Leon van Staden, in the design of the Airtime obstacle course at Body 5000, which eventually opened in 2018 and Kok helped run and train until his untimely death.
Determined to keep his memory alive, the team decided to take part in the Warrior Race to honour their hometown hero.
After overcoming a variety of mud and air obstacles, the team finished the course and received medals for their efforts, proving that they anything can be overcome once one puts their minds to it.
The team told the Advertiser that “This race puts you to the test. It forces you to confront and overcome your fears, and the end result is the most rewarding feeling.”
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