An old boxing programme can unleash a treasure trove of memories, ranging from hand grenade explosions to the death penalty, but above all, boxing.
Every name tells a story.

Piet Wilkens shines in ring and battalion

According to the programme, Piet Wilkens fought Alfred Mazibuko in the Golden Gloves Promotions Tournament, an international event that took place at the Wembley Sports Arena on May 26, 1980.
I was in Bravo Company with Piet in 1976 at 7 South African Infantry Battalion. The unit hosted a tournament with the different companies against each other. Bravo Company first held trials in a small hall. Piet was our number one, our hero. He was going to box against the Natal champion from Alpha Company. The tournament was a big highlight. The troops from Alpha Company told us how good their man was and how he was going to knock out Piet. Little did they know that Piet was the South African light heavyweight champion. He made short work of the Natal man. After border duty, the Natal troop and some of his buddies arrived at the unit with severe wounds to their legs. We were told that their corporal had tied a hand grenade to his webbing and bent the pin open, ready for action. When they went into all-round defence, the hand grenade fell out and the pin was pulled. The corporal did not survive and the troops probably still bear the scars of shrapnel wounds to this day.

Corporals show new-found respect

After Piet’s victory, Corporals Deon Stuart and Grobler treated our company with much more respect.
The programme also featured Norman ‘Pangaman‘ Sekgapane against ‘Hot-klaw’ Bennie Nortman, Sakkie Enslin against Neels de Beer, and Bruce McIntyre, who took on Argentinian Ruben Hector Pardo. I saw Nortman and Enslin box as amateurs.
Two names in particular sparked memories: Canny Mashele and Aladdin Stevens. This was from a different tournament in December 1979 at the Rand Stadium, where Piet also boxed. Only experienced, veteran boxing fans will know if it was the best tournament ever held in South Africa.

Ringside seats at Rand Stadium

Canny Mashele was trained by Tonie van Rensburg of the Railway Club in Witbank. It was his third fight after two victories, but on that night in December 1979, Tonie could not take him to Johannesburg. Canny rode with me in an old Witbank News car, just the two of us.
A young lawyer, Rodney Berman, had started Golden Gloves Promotions two years earlier. I phoned him for a ticket and was amazed when he offered to hand it to me personally at the gate. On that rainy afternoon, a very young Berman brought me the ticket as promised, and I sat right next to the ring. Looking back today, I know the success of Golden Gloves is not just about boxing – it is about Berman’s humanity.
Canny and Aladdin met in one of the first bouts, featuring two of the country’s most promising lightweight boxers. It was brilliant boxing, though Canny lost on points. After the fight, money rained down on the ring, with coins flying over my head. When we drove home late at night, we stopped at a café for hamburgers and Coke. Canny’s lips were so swollen he could not eat, so he just sipped his drink. He complained all the way home because he had not known Aladdin was a southpaw.

Bester defeats Steyn as blood splashes ringside

The experienced Steyn boxed against up-and-coming young Bester that night, losing on points. His father, Andries, who trained him, was furious and accused officials of unfairly denying his son the win. In March 1980, Steyn lost again to Bester, but beat him in January 1981.
In the fight between Bruce ‘Mac the Knife’ McIntyre and Cameron ‘Kangaroo’ Adams, McIntyre’s nose was split open by a right hand within moments, sending blood spattering onto my white shirt. Referee Stanley Christodoulou helped McIntyre to the neutral corner, where a doctor allowed him to continue. Despite desperation in his eyes, McIntyre shook Adams with hard right hooks, and by the fourth round, fear showed in Adams’ eyes. Adams had never lost in five fights, but before him was a bloodied opponent who refused to give up. In the fifth round, McIntyre attacked relentlessly, knocking Adams down right in front of me. Adams got up, but McIntyre showed no mercy, prompting Christodoulou to stop the fight, which was later named ‘Fight of the Year’.

From boxing ring to gallows

Berman went on to become the country’s most successful boxing promoter, while Christodoulou became one of the world’s leading referees. However, the boxers’ lives took vastly different turns, with Adams’ path eventually leading to the gallows. He was sentenced to death after being attacked with a knife during gang violence and subsequently shooting a gang member in revenge. He and gang leader Vincent Stuurman were both handed death sentences. A Linden housewife, Iris Baltsoucos, fought a fierce campaign to save his life, introducing Adams and other prisoners to Christianity during her crusade against capital punishment. She later recalled that he was escorted to the gallows as a convert, noting: “His Bible was read in pieces.”

Title action returns to Middelburg

Looking ahead, Bonginkosi Nhlapo will put his WBF light heavyweight title on the line against Ayanda Mthembu when Middelburg hosts its first-ever world title boxing fight. The Bokke & Boxing Fight Night tournament takes place at Event City on August 29, also featuring a South African title fight in which Phaphama Rhonorhono defends his South African welterweight crown against Jabulani Makhense.