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I spent Friday night 21 May in a
black township just outside Port
Elizabeth in South Africa
attending the first boxing show
in Port Elizabeth in many
years. Most of the people in
this township live impoverished
lives of poverty and suffering,
but have always shown character
and the ability to rise above
their many difficulties.
Driving back to the hotel after
the show, I couldn't stop
thinking about the World Boxing
Federation empowering the many
talented fighters not only in
South Africa but in the world
and giving them the chance to
combat poverty and to become
champions.
And that is exactly what the
World Boxing Federation has been
doing, is doing, and will
continue to do. Of course we
have our world champions who
have come from affluent areas,
but what about the others who
come from poor backgrounds and
have the chance to change their
lives and the lives of others
forever.
Molefe Matima is just one of
those young men. Coming from a
poor background, he turned to
boxing in order to avoid the
life of gangs and crime. Showing
great promise he has progressed
through the ranks, just winning
the WBFed All Africa
featherweight title and will be
contesting a world title in
August this year. This likeable
and well spoken young man has
also vowed to educate himself to
the full and is in his final
year of high school education.
The World Boxing Federation
believes that their champions,
be they world champions,
intercontinental champions,
international champions and
others, have responsibilities to
act and behave like champions in
and out the ring. They need to
be role models to the youth,
they need to be respected and
idolised, and above all they
need to act with humility,
dignity and responsibility.
I am indeed proud knowing that
most of the WBFed champions
firstly know that, and secondly
live by those characteristics.
We will continue to grow
champions, to afford
opportunities to the talented
and allow people to live out
their dreams. Surely that is
what life (and boxing) is all
about.
See you in July.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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