Boxing events in South Africa are gaining traction internationally amongst both media and tourists, with fights featuring big names battling it out in the arena. Added to which, the international ‘Making a Champ (MAC) Boxing Series’ will be hosted in the country for the first time on September 21, with Sun International’s Carnival City in Johannesburg as the battlefield.
Organiser of the event, Andre Thysse from Real Steel Promotions and former SA and Commonwealth super middleweight champion, told Tourism Update that the MAC Boxing Series was bound to attract international visitors due to the way it has been set, with fighters from seven different countries.
According to Thysse, events such as the MAC Boxing Series pulls in international boxing fans to South Africa, as well as those already in the country who appreciate the sport. “If you are in South Africa and enjoy boxing, you will make your way there,” he adds.
“Boxing in South Africa is growing with every tournament held. We are getting more and more exposure by broadcasters.”
Thysse says boxing has the potential to attract even more visitors to South Africa: “We just need to put the fights together and tourists will come in numbers to watch.”
Fans can brace for an action-packed fight night featuring fighters from across the globe, and for some it will be their first ever South African-based fights.
Going to battle on the 21st is American heavyweight Carl Davis Jr; current World Boxing Federation (WBF) welterweight champion from Kenya, James Onyango; and Hall of Fame Boxing Champion, Winky Wright from America.
For Davis Jr, this will be his first South African fight. Following this, Onyango defends his title against South Africa’s Jason Bedeman in a 12-round match as the co-main event of the evening.
In the second co-main event, Jackson Chauke from South Africa and Immanuel Joseph from Namibia will battle it out for the WBF World Flyweight title.
“Carnival City is well known for bringing some of the biggest and best boxing, wrestling and other sporting events to Ekurhuleni. We are excited to welcome fighters of the calibre featuring in the MAC Boxing Series next month. It does not get more riveting than this for boxing fans,” says Michelle Smith, Marketing Manager of Carnival City.
