BoxingIsBack

In celebration of Human Rights Month and United Nations International Women’s month, KwaZulu-Natal hosted a successful all-women boxing tournament at the Olive Convention Centre on Friday, 18 March 2016.

The event was hosted by Boxing South Africa, National Department of Sport and Recreation and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in collaboration with the KZN Department of Sport and Recreation. Dubbed “The Queens of War” -#BoxingIsBack, the wine and dine event featured seven (7) professional women’s bouts, including the international WBF Junior Middleweight fight between South African champion Noni Tenge against a stubborn challenger from Hungary Szilvia Szabados. Tenge, who was supported by a partisan local crowd, defended her title with a unanimous points decision after an entertaining 10-rounder. The bill was put together by women promoters Starline Boxing Promotions and White Buffalo Promotions.

MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha, who attended the event, said KwaZulu-Natal was honoured to host this tournament that promotes women participation in sport.

“This tournament is in line with our commitment to revive boxing in the Province. We strongly believe that it is through events such as the Queens of War that women boxers get a platform to showcase their talent at a national stage,” she said.

The tournament was followed by the Women in Boxing workshop which was hosted by BSA to skill women boxers, promoters and managers. The revival of boxing in the Province is one of the Department’s top priorities.