Athletes from Box360 Movement are punching their way to the top.
Four years ago, the boxing academy began in a single garage on the streets of Margate.
Today, the club proudly has 20 boxers, 150 members and now, four official pro-boxers: Ricardo Shaw, Jordan Peace, Hendry Omedowa and Nara Vellem.
This month, Shaw (22) from Margate joined the pro-box division, after he was graded and got his licence at Knuckle Game Boxing Academy in Durban. He was chosen out of a group of 100 boxers.
“I feel excited, but I still can’t believe that my biggest dream has come true,” said Shaw, who has been boxing for three years.
Then, Peace (20) from Ramsgate will be fighting Thanduxolo Lamula in the middleweight division at Escourt Town Hall on March 30.
Peace said he is extremely excited for his professional debut.
“I’m keen to showcase my skills, hard work and dedication,” he said.
In November last year, the coast’s first official pro-boxer, Vellem, beat Dario Barella from Knuckle Game Boxing Academy in a cracker of a fight at the Starline Boxing Promotions Tournament held at The Globe at Suncoast Casino.
At this showdown event was Francois Botha, a former South African professional boxer and kickboxer, also known as ‘The White Buffalo’.
For Vellem from Margate Ext 3, the quote: “Do one thing every day that scares you,” is what he took with him into the ring.
Roland van Rooyen, coach and founder of Box360, is extremely proud of how his academy has grown and the talent it has produced.
“It has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but we continue to train hard and do our best in the ring,” he said.
To kick off the year with a bang, Box360 will host a fight night, with 20 fights scheduled, to take place at their premises in Margate on April 6.
The fight of the night will be Lindani Duba from Revolution Hillcrest vs Buhlebenkosi Nzala from Box360.
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