Former Lowvelder Karam rolls with the punches

Karam was recently crowned the new Gauteng middleweight champion at Presley’s Night Club.

He grew up in Johannesburg before relocating with his family to Mbombela at the age of 12.

“I started boxing at the age of three. My grandfather was a South African champion in the 1950s. He had six sons and none followed in his footsteps. Therefore I decided to follow his legacy,” said Karam.

He travelled to Johannesburg back and forth for boxing, but it came incredibly expensive.

At 15 he stopped and decided to play rugby for his school.

“My best memories of LHS were the rugby and cricket seasons with Willem (Steyn) and Willie (Barnard). In 2009 I was offered a bursary to go study at Tuks and to play rugby for the Blue Bulls Academy.

“A year later I broke my foot and tore cross ligaments in both my knee and ankle. I was told that I would never be able to walk again properly. I rehabilitated my knee and leg and in 2011 I started to played rugby again.”

Steyn said he would always remember Karam’s dedication towards sport.

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“He was committed with everything he did – it was a pleasure to teach and coach him. We as LHS are very proud of him and wish him the best of luck with his future,” he said.

The year 2010 was a devastating time for this man.

He lost his son only days after he had been born.

Three years ago he picked up where he had left off, and joined Tranquility’s Christo and Chandré van Wyk.

“I had bad drinking and anger-management problems. I needed to release and get a way to channel my anger and pain, and that led me back to boxing. Christo convinced me to get back into the sport.”

Christo said Karam is a brother and a man to be proud of.

“I remember it like yesterday sitting outside Tranquility and speaking to a very emotional Jade about him wanting to be a good boxer and following in memory of his grandfather, Paul. We started chatting about him getting back into the ring but not for his grandfather, but for him to make his own legacy.

“I remember telling him that he already made his grandfather proud, because of the man he was and had become,” said Christo.

In 2014 Jade won the Amateur Mpumalanga Inter Club and Provincial Championships and later that year saw him going to nationals where he made it through to the finals.

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Later that year he moved back to the city and in 2015 turned professional.

“It wasn’t all moonlight and roses in the start. Things like diets and fitness were hard, but he gave it his all. We worked hard and went through the amateur ranks with some loses and some great wins,” said Christo.

Photo: Alexius van der Westhuizen”I am very proud to have been involved in his early development and wish him all the luck and prosperity in Ireland,” said Christo.

Karam made his debut on May 28, 2015 at Turffontein Race Course, during a competition called the Baptism of Fire.

“I knocked my opponent out in 53 seconds after round number one. I then went on to become South Africa’s busiest fighter under my coach and manager Anton Gilmore. I have always wanted to move my career to Europe or the UK as that is where the best boxers come from in the world. I now continue my career and journey toward becoming one of the world’s best fighters.”