‘Blue Jaguar’ returns to uplift local boxing

FORMER KZN middleweight boxing champion Mondli Mbonambi is on the comeback trail.

‘Blue Jaguar’ as he was affectionately known, Mbonambi is on a different mission this time. He wants to revive boxing, a sport once loved by many Zululanders during the period of 1980s and 1990s.

In an exclusive interview with the Zululand Observer, Mbonambi said his primary focus was on unearthing boxing talent in the rural areas, which according to him have been neglected in the past.

‘Yes boxing is alive in the townships and urban areas, but there is nothing in the rural areas. There is an abundance of talent which is not being exploited there.’

The retired professional boxer relishes his new role as trainer-manager for eSikhaleni Boxing Gym. He also manages professional boxers such as Mthunzi Dlamini, who is the number one contender in the junior lightweight division in KZN. Dlamini is the younger brother of the late Mlungisi ‘The Shark’ Dlamini, who passed away in 2010.

At the time of his death Dlamini was an undisputed champion, holding both the WBF and IBO titles.

‘Apart from Mthunzi, I also manage Bheki Mlaba, who fights in the bantamweight division, as well as Senzo Mbambo, who fights in the junior featherweight division, as well as a number of amateur boxers.’

Mbonambi remains optimistic about meeting his objective in reviving the pugilistic game.

‘This campaign will not be a one-man show, but we will work as a team. We are in the process of establishing a local boxing committee.

Freddie Horn

Currently I’m in talks with people like Freddie Horn, former South African cruiserweight champion, who is now based in Zululand and other well-known sport personalities, with a view to form this committee that will serve as a mouthpiece for Zululand boxers.

‘Another exciting development is that we now have a Zululand boxing promoter, Thulani ‘3 Seconds’ Nkwanyana. Having a boxing promoter will help us a great deal in bringing back the sport to the people.’

‘As of now boxing is alive in areas like Nseleni, KwaDlangezwa, eSikhaleni and Mevamhlophe, but that is not enough. We want to take the sport to areas like Mzingazi, Ngwelezane, Mandlazini, Ntambanana and many other rural areas.

Mbonambi decided to hang his gloves as a professional boxer with a record of 32 fights, 19 wins, 9 losses and 4 draws. Fifteen of his victories came via technical knockouts.