Culture and patriarchal attitudes that perpetuate the notion that boxing is preserved for men stand in the way for women to become professional boxers in KwaZulu-Natal.
This is the view of boxing promoter Zandile Malinga, who believes more work still needs to be done to revive and attract women into the fistic sport in the province.
“Unlike other provinces, it’s difficult in KZN in particular to mobilise women to join boxing as a sport because of cultural attitudes,” said Malinga.
“But we’re slowly changing this image. Also, on the side of BSA [Boxing South Africa], we are saying there must be less talk and more action.”
Malinga was among guest speakers at the launch of the KwaZulu-Natal leg of Rise in Women Boxing Series organised by BSA in UShaka Marine on Wednesday.
As it stands, KwaZulu-Natal has four female boxing promoters and 13 professional female boxers.
BSA CEO Erick Nsikayesizwe Sithole said the series is the association’s long-term strategy to turn female boxing into a lucrative sport.
“We are excited to announce the launch of Rise in Women Boxing Series programme,” said Sithole.
“This will assist unearth new talent and give exposure to young women and use these series to galvanize support and sponsorships in relation to women boxing federations.”
The series will be hosted across all nine provinces and the KwaZulu-Natal installment will end on Saturday with a number of nail-biting encounters featuring local female fighters going head-to-head against Southern African Development Community counterparts.
A string of professional female boxers including SA national champion Thema “Cold Stone” Zuma and Ladysmith-born Bathabile Ziqubu, the holder of World Boxing Federation Africa junior bantamweight title, will butt heads at the Olive Convention Centre.
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