Tribute to Aubrey ‘Rassie’
Erasmus’.
I was asked to pay tribute
at the memorial service for
the late ‘Rassie Erasmus’
this past week. I had known
Rassie for over 40 years.
While listening to stories
of Rassie at the memorial,
of days in the air-force,
the bowling green, building
houses, I realized that each
of the speakers before me
mentioned specifically his
love and passion for boxing.
Rassie was a six foot two,
two hundred pound giant, but
within the giant frame was a
man of compassion,
integrity, humility and a
highly knowledgeable boxing
man. A boxing man and a
family man.
His family was everything to
him, and his second family,
that of the WBF, wasn’t far
behind.
He refereed and judged for
the Western Cape (Cape Town)
boxing commission for over
40 years, and represented
the World Boxing Federation
with great pride and aplomb
for several years,
officiating in almost 30 WBF
title fights.
He was always punctual,
always smiling, always
willing to help - and simply
a huge asset to the WBF.
Rassie loved his boxing, so
much so that after his
retirement as an official,
he would phone me every week
simply to talk boxing and to
find out how we were doing
at the World Boxing
Federation.
The WBF is known for having
outstanding officials with
dignity and professionalism.
We say goodbye to a great
man - a man who epitomized
everything that is good with
the WBF. A man of honor.
Rest in peace Aubrey
‘Rassie’ Erasmus.
