Mpumalanga will host two tournaments on November 21 and 22 to launch the Steve Tshwete Boxing Series following a successful event at Event City.
“It’s going to be huge!” said renowned boxing coach Steven Pieterse today.
Lance Gibson, a former boxer and now a top coach based in Graskop who produces South African champions, noted that there is still some time to go before the tournament takes place in Middelburg in November.
Middelburg beat KuGompo (East London) to the opportunity to host the tournament.
Eastern Cape loses hosting rights
Eastern Cape media were critical today of the city’s failure to secure the hosting rights.
The Herald newspaper reported: “The hopes of KuGompo City serving as the launch venue for the much-publicised boxing series have fizzled out after authorities opted to kick it off in Mpumalanga in November. After much fanfare, with Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie even promoting the city in numerous speeches since the February 2025 boxing indaba at the International Convention Centre, Boxing SA decided to take it to Mpumalanga province, which includes the Steve Tshwete Municipality.
The highly anticipated Boxing Series will officially get underway in Mpumalanga in November, dashing KuGompo City’s hopes of hosting the tournament launch.”
Boxing South Africa (BSA) confirmed the shift to Mpumalanga, although the Eastern Cape will ultimately stage the series finals in March 2027.
Due to logistics, the Steve Tshwete Boxing Series will be launched in Mpumalanga with two tournaments, on November 21 and 22.
Funding and tournament details
BSA said the series would be held in only four provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal next in line before Gauteng.
The series will include amateur boxers under the SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation umbrella.
The number of boxers fielded per province remains uncertain, although BSA said the total number would be 48.
The series will accommodate boxers with a maximum of three fights.
The Department of Sport and Recreation has already advanced R1m to each province to cater for the tournaments, with BSA expected to decide on the boxers’ purses together with selected promoters.
Pieterse and Boxing South Africa Mpumalanga and Limpopo manager Oupa Lubisi had a meeting today to discuss the way forward.
Main Boxing Promotions hosted the successful tournament at Event City.
