A young Randfontein boxer is continuing his father’s legacy by picking up where his father left off in the boxing world.
Abel ‘Ndava‘ Ndava, a 21-year-old boxer from the Randgate Boxing Club (RBC) spoke to the Herald of the trials he has had to overcome and the successes he has achieved.
Ndava started boxing in 2008 at a Carletonville boxing club. When asked why he started boxing in the first place he said, “My father was a boxer. He didn’t get any big titles but he was a good boxer.”
After his coach moved away, Ndava left his initial club and started boxing for Randgate in 2014. It takes about an hour to get from Carletonville, where Ndava lives some of the time, to the Randgate club, depending on whether he can hitch a ride on the side of the road, or not. If he can’t, he takes a taxi.
To make travelling easier, especially before big bouts, Ndava has managed to get temporary accommodation, with the help of Randgate Boxing Club’s head coach, Willie Consalves.
Since becoming a member of the RBC, Ndava has flourished. For the past three years, he has won gold at the Gauteng Boxing Championships. And, in the South African Boxing Championships, he won silver in 2014. He has also been accepted into the SANABO Boxing League (SBL) team in the 58kg to 60kg weight class.
Ndava has plans to earn many boxing titles. So far he has had 20 bouts, of which only four were losses.
This boxer fancies himself a young Floyd Mayweather – Mayweather having been referred to as the world’s most conditioned boxer. As a result, Ndava trains five days a week, and includes strenuous cardio and power exercises as well as sparring and running in his programme. He said he runs 11kms every week to keep his stamina up.
“My secret to success is stamina and a relaxed boxing style in the ring. In training, push-ups and core exercises are important for me. And my secret weapon is my straight right,” he said.
Statistics and information:
• 58kg to 60kg weight class
• Silver grading
• Orthodox stance
• Twenty fights
• Four losses
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