When the late legendary boxer Willie Toweel was asked during his induction into the SA Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 which achievement in his career stood out, he said it was when he was able to use his voice to help the oppressed.
These words inspired his wife Alida and daughter Samantha to document the Toweel brothers’ story in a 546-page inspiring book titled, A Fistful of Legends, that tells their history in boxing from 1923.
“All he wanted was to help others. His sport was a way of being a means of support and care,” said Alida.
Born into a destitute family in Benoni in 1934, Willie and his brothers, Jimmy, Vic, Alan and Maurice were known as the fighting Toweels after successful boxing careers, thanks to their father Michael “Pappa Mike’ Toweel, a successful amateur boxer in his youth and later a top trainer.
The book tells a story of faith, courage and struggle for survival that starts in Lebanon and ends in Benoni, leading the Toweels to build a legacy that elevated boxing in the country.
“It was such a powerful story of courage, rising through the worst circumstances and never giving up. They encountered lots of obstacles, which could’ve crushed them. But they climbed over it,” Alida said.
After his amateur career, a partially blind Mike trained his sons in a corrugated iron shed on 12 Balfour Avenue and turned his family into one of the most famous boxing families in the world.
“My grandfather fought for his family. He did that with the only thing he knew how and that was boxing. He gave them what he could and they lifted the nation by fighting for inclusivity in sport and for people with disabilities,” said Samantha.
Mike took his eldest son, Jimmy ‘The Body Snatcher’ Toweel, to capture the SA lightweight title after stopping Fanie Bushney in the 10th round in 1949.
However, it was his second son, Vic, who reached unprecedented heights in the sport, capturing the SA bantamweight, featherweight and British Empire bantamweight titles, as well as the world bantamweight title on May 31, 1950, when he outpointed Manuel Ortiz over 15 rounds.
While his other son, Alan was a promising welterweight, his career was ended by asthma and he subsequently trained his brothers Willie and Frazer. Willie had an illustrious 54-bout boxing career, winning four national titles and a bronze medal at the 1948 London Olympics.
Of all Mike’s sons, perhaps the courageous fighter was Maurice, who, despite being confined to a wheelchair due to polio, became an outstanding promoter and manager.
“Uncle Maurice wasn’t able to fight. Can you imagine having world-champion brothers and you are in a wheelchair? Lots of people would be despondent and give up. He became a top promoter and manager. That’s the story we want to tell. We want the youth of this country to believe that it’s possible,” Samantha said.
Alida and Samantha, who now live in Randburg, took 17 years to write the book.
Thanks to the SA Archives in Pretoria, Cullen Library Archives at the University of Witwatersrand and other sources, they documented a compelling story of the Toweels’ contribution to boxing and their fight against injustice.
“It was the most wonderful thing to find, read and see how they always respected everyone. They treated no one differently. They fought for equality. Nobody was low or high class. They were humbled and trained hard.”
The book is available in several bookstores. All the proceeds go to the Growing Champions NPO, an organisation started by Samantha to mentor young children to become champions.
For more info, contact Alida on alida@toweel.co.za
