Hart's Fighters Club event aims to elevate women's presence in the sport

Innovations will play a vital role in reviving and growing local boxing in South Africa, as highlighted through various grassroots initiatives, promoter efforts and structural changes, says promoter Terry-Anne Hart.

She will stage a two-pronged boxing event at Silver Lakes Farm in Pretoria on Saturday evening.

The CEO and founder of Fighters Club will also launch what she called Surviving Silver Lakes, which is a boxing series.

“It will take audiences beyond the boxing ring and into the lives, ambitions and challenges of female fighters,” she explained.

“Through training, competition, mentorship and personal development, it tells the stories of women working to build a future in sport and in life.”

She added that the series represents an opportunity to put women at the centre of the programme and introduce their talent to new audiences.

“It connects the action in the ring with the people and journeys behind it,” she said.

“Our aim is to create more consistent opportunities for women to compete, develop their skills and gain the visibility that can attract supporters and potential sponsors.

“It gives their voices a platform, while Fighters Club works to build a stronger pathway for female talent.”

She said they want young women to see that they belong in this sport and also that their stories matter.

“Also that their ambitions deserve investment. For us, this tournament is a step towards sustained opportunity, greater recognition and a stronger future for women in boxing.”

Topping the bill will be two South African junior featherweight and featherweight champions, Nomusa Ngema and Ntombokuqala Tolashe, in a non-title six-rounder.

Ngema is from KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal, and she fights out of the African Child Club under manager Michael Sediane in Randfontein, while Tolashe is from the Western Cape.

“I expect it to be an explosive fight, but we believe Nomusa left no stones unturned in her preparations,” said Sediane.

“She has been denied the opportunity to appear in the Women Boxing Series, so she intends to use this platform to showcase her skills.”

Noxolo Magagula will welcome Jennier Sechi from Botswana in a flyweight bout, while Alima Nkosi and Noxolo Mkhasibe will battle it out in the middleweight class.

Siphiwe Ntombela from Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal will return after an eight-month break, following his brutal fight with Jarred “Mr Holywood” Silverman in Fighters Club’s event at the same venue in Pretoria in February.

The duo should have both been given at least 30 days off the gym, which is a precaution that will enable them to recover from injuries they received in their savage bout.

They exchanged powerful blows vigorously and aggressively with little care of defence, but Silverman emerged victorious.

Ntombela will take on Morgan Hunter in the junior middleweight over six rounds.

Vuyo Radebe and Tetelo Selesho will meet in the junior welterweight bout with Nhlakanipho Phungula and Prosperous Mashoele in the junior lightweight class.