Boxing is called the sweet science, what ever that means. This is certainly not for the bruised faces it leaves on defeated opponents and winners alike. Even more, not when some of its most illustrious succumb to untimely death at a relatively young age or at an age when they could have contributed more in different capacities.
Known as “Hands of Stone”, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba was probably one of the greats (in his own right, of course) from an era when South African boxers had box office appeal, attracting air time on world famous sporting cables like Showtime and Sky Sports. His death, allegedly from COVID-19 related complications, comes soon after South Africa lost the country’s answer to Don King, Mzi Mnguni, in the first quarter of the year.
Ledwaba’s career spanned 16 years – from 1990 to 2006, when he hang up his gloves, after winning world titles. He claimed his first world title (WBU bantamweight champion) in 1996 after defeating Cruz Carbajal. In 1999, he won outpointed John Michael Jackson to clinch the IBF junior featherweight crown, which he would lose a sixth defence to boxing legend, Manny Pacquiao, who was a rookie then at 22. But his loss to Manny, at the age of 30, was not before he had put up a gallant fight. His last shot at glory was when he beat fellow South African, Vuyani Bungu, for the IBF featherweight belt, which he would make 13 title defences.
Ledwaba’s record was impeccable: Ledwaba fought 43 times, winning 36 (of which 23 were by knockout), losing 6 and drawing 1 bout.
Ledwaba retired in 2006 and was in relative obscurity. Feeling that could contribute to boxing in a different capacity, he was involved in training up and coming talent. One of his protégés is Zolani Tete, who would become a world boxing champion.
Ledwaba was not the conventional boxing trainer, boisterous, with the proclivity of basking a boxer’s glory. Instead, he preferred to conduct his business in the background, letting the winner get all the deserved limelight, content with the spell he had in his heyday.
In a glowing tribute to his mentor, former two division world champion ,Zolani Tete, to his mentor and ex-trainer Lehlohonolo Ledwaba‚ said: ” “I owe everything to Bra Hloks [Ledwaba] and we had kept consistent communication throughout until his death. Indeed, death is the worst opponent one could face.”
Tete is immensely grateful to Ledwaba for launching his successful career, when Ledwaba’s role as a chief trainer, helped him achieve an upset TKO win over England’s Paul Butler in 2015, against all odds. The victory proved to a stepping stone to bigger things for Tete, who would earn a lucrative contract with his British promoter, Frank Warren.
On his twitter account, the legendary Manny Pacquaio, paid tribute to Ledwaba. ‘Sad to hear about the passing of Lehlo Ledwaba,. Rest in peace champ.”
Ledwaba was three weeks from what would have been his 50th birthday.
