Retired world champion calls for protection of boxers from ‘greedy’ promoters

Former World Boxing Union (WBU) middleweight champion Ruben Groenewald says he feels like a forgotten man of South African boxing.

In a candid interview, Groenewald accused the country’s boxing administrators of abandoning fighters once their careers end.

“Nobody cares about former boxers. As long as you are big and winning, you’ll have a lot of fair-weather friends and hangers-on,” he said. “When you lose a couple of fights and eventually retire, nobody cares about you.”

His comments come as calls grow louder for accountability over the long-standing boxing benevolent fund.

The fund, established more than 40 years ago, was created to support retired or injured boxers using contributions from their fight purses.

Earlier this year, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie revealed that the fund had been looted and that millions of rands were missing.

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He has since ordered an investigation and vowed to take legal action against those responsible.

Groenewald, who now lives in Germiston, said he is one of many retired boxers who deserve their share of the fund.

“For many years, we have been filling promoters’ pockets. They live in mansions while most former boxers live in squalor. I’m a former world champion. I gave my life to boxing. I deserve my share of the fund,” he said.

He also called on McKenzie to intervene and better protect boxers from exploitative promoters.

“It’s time the government changed its policies. Rather than giving a promoter R2 million to stage a show that costs R500 000, share that money with the boxers and make the promoters work hard for their money,” he said.

Groenewald added that promoters should be required to host at least six shows per year across the country.

“We cannot allow the promoters to take R1.5m home plus sponsorship money while boxers starve.”

Described by legendary boxing journalist Ron Jackson as one of the gutsiest fighters South Africa has produced, Groenewald began boxing at the age of nine in Brakpan.

After a successful amateur career, he turned professional in 1996, making his debut in a drawn bout against Andries Gogome.

He went on to win his first professional title, the vacant African Boxing Union (ABU) super welterweight belt, when he defeated Nigerian Cyprian Emeti at Carnival City.

Reflecting on the highlight of his career; his 2000 victory over Anthony Farnell for the WBU middleweight title. Groenewald called it the greatest experience of his life.

“Anthony was a very strong and experienced boxer, with a record of 29 wins (20 knockouts) in 30 fights. It was a very good record, but I knew it was my time,” he said.

Looking ahead, Groenewald plans to join forces with fellow former boxer Anton van Zyl to share his knowledge and experience with young fighters across Ekurhuleni.

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