LIMPOPO – IN the dusty streets of Giyani, boxing legend Eric Baloyi (73) is likened by many of his devoted followers to a persuasive sporting version of the Rhema Church’s pastor Ray McCauley.
Affectionately known as “Uncle Eric” and anointed with the moniker of “The Iron Man” during his heyday, Baloyi’s name is on every boxing follower’s lips across the province following a successful boxing tournament last Saturday at the Malamulele boxing gymnasium.
The tournament, which was conducted under the auspices of the Limpopo Amateur Boxing Organisation, attracted boxers from all the five districts of the province.
“There is still a lot of interest among young people who want to pursue careers in boxing. All they need are proper governing structures to guide them through,” said Baloyi.
Apart from coordinating a successful tournament that featured 27 bouts, he has saved young troubled boys from the underworld of crime and threw them into the boxing ring.
The R15 million boxing gymnasium, a state-of-the-art indoor arena located a heartbeat from Baloyi’s house, has become a second home for many budding boxers in his neighbourhood.
Baloyi said tournaments like this played a momentous role in instilling the love of boxing among youngsters who want to follow in the footsteps of local role models such as Cassius Baloyi, Phillip Ndou, Joseph Makaringe and Isaac Hlatshwayo.
Baloyi, who is the father of world-renowned multiple title conqueror, Cassius, said Limpopo’s top fighters were discovered in similar tournaments like the one held the past weekend.
Cassius remains the only South African fighter to win six world titles in three different weight divisions, while Ndou held the WBU strap. Hlatshwayo was the IBO lightweight and IBO and IBF welterweight champion, while Makaringe was the national welterweight king.
All these fighters, as well as Jeffrey Mathebula, Vincent Vuma and Oscar Chauke, were trained by Baloyi in the amateur ranks.
Whenever he is given a chance to walk down memory lane, Baloyi narrates the 1974 trip to Cuba where he told the local media that his wife Sannie was pregnant and that she was going to give birth to a baby boy who would later become an accomplished boxer.
