One of the most prominent figures in South Africa, Dr. Mathews Phosa, has been appointed Honorary President of the World Boxing Federation with immediate effect.
WBF President Howard Goldberg expressed his and the WBF’s delight at having one of the most influential and dignified personalities in all of Africa on board the World Boxing Federation, as the organization continues its huge and global expansion on a daily basis.
“Dr. Phosa has a huge role to play, primarily in developing the WBF in Africa, but more so in South Africa. The policy of the WBF is to set the highest standards and to empower locally talented fighters to work and train hard, and to be dedicated to their pugilistic profession, by affording them opportunities to fight for titles which might otherwise not ever be afforded to them,” explained Goldberg, himself a former international referee and judge who has officiated in more than 150 world titles during his career.
“The WBF Executive Committee is always in search of prominent, passionate and honourable personalities who can, and will add value to our organization. Dr. Phosa is a major coup for both the WBF and South African boxing, and I am extremely excited to be able to work side by side with such an outstanding man going forward,” added Goldberg.
Born Nakedi Mathews Phosa, the now 61-year-old is an attorney and popular politician, having held a number of positions in the ANC (African National Congress) party, and was a prominent activist in the anti-apartheid movement, which freed South Africa. He speaks several languages and serves as a business consultant for various local and international companies. Furthermore, he currently holds executive positions at more than ten prominent South African institutions and companies.
Congratulations on Dr Phosa’s appointment have come from all over the world, including former WBF World Heavyweight Champion Evander ‘Real Deal’ Holyfield, WBF Vice President Jean Marcel Nartz of Germany and WBF Executive Committee Chairman Torben Seemann Hansen from Denmark, to mention but a few.
Goldberg concluded: “The WBF will continue to strive for transparency and excellence in boxing, and together with BSA and Dr. Phosa, we look forward to once again transform our champions into role models for our country and to make South Africa a powerhouse in world boxing.”
Photo: At Fridays press conference, from left: WBF World Cruiserweight Champion Danie Venter, New WBF Honorary President Dr. Mathews Phosa, WBF President Howard Goldberg and WBF Africa Cruiserweight Champion Kevin Lerena.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
