The King is dead – long live the QUEEN

By Andile & Mandla Dladla

Boxing promoters are hardly ever in the spotlight as the boxers would be and that is because of how their role is designed.

Granted, in the past Rodney Berman and Thinus Strydom used to hog the headlines briefly but now the spotlight is shining brightly on Mbali “Don Queen” Zantsi who hails from Gqeberha.

Nicknamed after the flamboyant American legendary boxing promoter Donald King who is known for his involvement in several historic match ups, Zantsi’ is determined to ensure that South Africa produces some of the biggest names in world boxing.

Promoting is not as easier as one expects as there are far too many pitfalls and challenges than meets the eye. The role requires someone passionate about the sport and imbued with nerves of steel with a tough mental attitude to be able to tackle challenges head on.

“It hasn’t been an easy journey because boxing is naturally a predominantly male dominated field,” said Zantsi who added that even the composition of umbrella body Boxing South Africa (BSA) there is still a large number of positions occupied by men.

“I’ve had to knock on numerous doors as a promoter and I was met by countless challenges where one encounters some who still hold stereotypical views in this age and time that a woman must first sleep with them or solicit sex favours in order to get what she wants.

“I had to trust myself and know what I want and in so doing I have been able to walk away and believe that if it is not meant to be then I’ll knock on the next door.”

Things have been slowly changing for the better over the last couple of years as there has been a healthy emergence of more women occupying positions at municipal level and Boxing South Africa has been no exception.

“In spite of the changes however, one still encounters challenges with some women you come across at the municipal office looking for funding but the person thinks you are after their position which is not the case.”

Mbali got involved in boxing during 1999 which has allowed her the opportunity to travel the world and has met three all-time boxers that shaped and inspired many generations.

“What I love about boxing is that even if you get knocked down hard, you still get up and fight. Which is what Naseem Hamed used to do, no matter how much you would knock him down he would still get up and never gave up.

“Jacob ‘Baby Jake’ Matlala was vertically challenged as a boxer but he would still bring you down and he used his short height as an advance to literally bring you down to his level.

“Then we had this flamboyant boxer in Philip Ndou and one of my favorite boxers in Vuyani Bungu who was known as the “Beast” but we used to call “The Teddy bear” – these guys made boxing fun and attract a huge following.

“I loved their style, I loved the fact that it was easy to sell because now you have a boxer that is marketable. When I am looking at boxing from a promoters point of view as a business person.

“Boxing needs someone that is as flamboyant and charismatic like Floyd Mayweather Jnr that is still able to sell themselves out there even though he has long hung up his gloves.”

Boxing suffered heavily as a contact sport during the devastating Covid-19 pandemic due to the fact that fights were not allowed to take place but some have taken advantage by opening up online communications and other forms of promotion.

Zantsi Showtime Productions through Nelson Mandela Bay Promoters Association in conjunction with Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality presents an all-female boxing tournament at Nangoza Jebe Centenary Hall New Brighton, Gqeberha and will be live on SABC.

Don Queen is looking forward to more young girls joining boxing and learning the sport so that they can go on to become great boxers and role models in their communities one day.