SA boxing icon still fighting fit, be it from behind the ropes
James 'Dynamite' Mathato fought against boxing legends such as 'Gerrie' Coetzee and Kosie Smith and is now passing his knowledge to the up-and-coming champions.
POLOKWANE – The former South African supreme light heavyweight boxing champion, James ‘Dynamite’ Mathato believes he can still take any boxer on.
The 86-year-old sportsman from Seshego started boxing in 1967 and competed in 21 amateur fights and 22 professional fights before retiring in August 1981. He was introduced to the sport while working in the then Transvaal province.
“I worked at a company called AECI Limited in the North Rand Transvaal where I worked for most of my life. We lived in hostels and one day I picked up a boxing glove while walking to work and took it straight to our factory manager and told him I would like to learn more about the sport. I had seen boxers practicing in the sport complex hall within our work premises and found it intriguing,” he said.
The factory manager introduced James to the coach and the rest was history.
“It was the happiest day of my life. I was motivated by the professional boxers I saw on television. This was a very big opportunity for me to show off my boxing skills,” he said.
James became an amateur champion in 1969 and a professional champion in 1972.
He told BONUS that he was in the first multi-racial boxing match in South Africa against world heavyweight champion, Gerhardus Christian ‘Gerrie’ Coetzee, who held a World Boxing Association (WBA) title.
multi-racial boxing match in Gqeberha.
He also fought in the first ever multi-racial boxing match in Gqeberha against Kosie Smith, who became the supreme light heavyweight champion of South Africa after knocking James out in the fifth round. James did not give up and kept on fighting in national matches. James now owns a boxing club where he coaches three professional boxers, including local boxer, Molepo Kgasago, and gives classes to boxers in the Seshego area.
“I know all the rules, skills and techniques within the sport so I decided to pass my knowledge on to the children in my community. I believe boxing improves balance and posture, and strengthens the upper-body and core. Boxing practice boosts the boxers’ endurance, increases their alertness and also improves their hand-eye coordination,” he said.
“As old as I am, I will still challenge anyone in the boxing ring. I believe icons like myself should be honoured and people should host tributes for us while we’re still alive,” James said.
He added that his one wish is to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Limpopo Premier, Chupu Mathabatha.
