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MosselbayonTheline | First With The News

The legendary Muhammad Ali was his idol and he dreamt of the World Boxing Champ title . . .  he practised diligently to follow in his American idol's footsteps . . . to Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee . . . 

But alas, for a young black kid in an East Cape township in the 1970's, it was Mission Impossible . . . 

That did not stop or discourage the young David Faas - the oldest of seven children whose life took a sudden twist when a generous gym owner and boxing trainer/promotor introduced him and his primary school mates to the boxing ring . . . and the discipline, passion and opportunities of this sport. 

Hope was kindled  . . . and a life long dream was born

 

 

 


David learned everything he could about boxing and promoting from his new role model, Saint Mrwetyana, at the latter's gymnasium in the Kwazakhele township in Port-Elizabeth.

He trained hard and dreamt BIG - inspired by the Great Ali's famous sayings : "Don't count the days, make the days countand  "I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'"

It was hard times and at a stage David had to quit high school to help support his parents and younger siblings. He took odd jobs, but kept on training and eventually completed matric before he started working as cost facilitator at General Motors in Port Elizabeth while training, promoting and inspiring local young boxers after work.

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"Since the age of eleven, I literally grew up in a boxing world and in 1987 I officially became a professional promotor. I didn't get the opportunity to fight in national competitions . . . it was the time of boxers like Willie Ludick, Gerrie Coetzee, Brian Mitchell, Kallie Knoetze, Mike Schutte, Jimmy Abbott and the likes and although boxing was HUGE in South Africa, so was apartheid . . . and there weren't promotors to support and promote young black kids in those years."

David and his mates were idly horsing around with a rugby ball when a stranger called them:
" Hey, Ruggarites, come here . . . "

 





That was in the 1960's and it was Saint Mrwetyana who took the young boys under his wing and opened a whole new world to them.

Although David himself never reached stardom  in the ring, he excelled as a caring coach and promotor and soon made his mark on the International scene when he staged two All-Africa bouts. He was also a first South African Promoter from any sector to stage an IBF International bout when Vuyo Nene met Indonesian Abdi Pohan. This attracted the largest crowd in Port Elizabeth's history - a record which still remains.

David also staged four South African title contests in Cape Town, all involving the junior lightweight champion Fana whom Faas built into an International figure and took to the UK for his attempt at the WBC International title. 


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Now David has targeted Mossel Bay and the wider South Cape to identify the huge talent pool of youngsters without hope or a dream . . . and to give THEM the dream that moulded his life and inspired him.

The kick-off to launch Mossel Bay as the new Boxing MECCA of South Africa starts with a Boxing Bonanza on Saturday 13 October 2018 when Mossel Bay's two young professional boxers take to the ring against two talented professionals from the East Cape. Thanks to LOTTO money they acquired, Mossel Bay will have its first boxing ring for the title fights.






Featherweight Bulelani Ngondeka and flyweight Mbulelo Gubula have recently both turned professional and David has high hopes for their careers. Ngondeka is currently the Western Cape's top boxer in the Elite Amateur division and both he and Gubula are also training at the Tiger Kai gym in Mossel Bay where owner/trainer Phillip Goodger is also assisting them with a combination of martial arts training.

Says Faas: "I want to invite some current world champions to Mossel Bay and organise a workshop. Boxing promoter Terrence Ndanda has brought some big fights here -  we can do it again! I am positive that we already have two future champs here in Ngondeka and Gubula."

Local trainers Masimphiwe Qatu, Mncedisi Nqenkeza and Xolani Ngemntu are also very optimistic about "making Mossel Bay the biggest Boxing Town in the country".

"We have the talent, the trainers, the promotor, the supporters and now even a boxing ring - why NOT?" asked Qatu.
They have been trying to negotiate with the Mossel Bay Municipality to use the Barcelona Hall in KwaNonqaba as a training centre, as there are no training facilities in the area. "It is very hard to train the kids outdoors - especially in winter. We hope the Municipality will allow us to use the Barcelona Hall as it is currently only standing empty", he said.   

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Ready for the biggest BOXING Bonanza ever held in Mossel Bay on 23 October! Mossel Bay's two professional boxers Bulelani Ngondeka (left) and Mbulelo Gubula with their trainers and promotor. In the middle row are from left: Masimphiwe Qatu, Mncedisi Nqenkeza and Xolani Ngemntu (Dynamite), who won the World Boxing Foundation's international middle-weight title in 2007. At the back are Phillip Goodger (owner/trainer of Tiger Kai Gym and David Faas (promotor).

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Thinking and fighting OUT of the box!   Bulelani Ngondeka (right) and Mbulelo Gubula sparring at Tiger Kai gym. 

 The seven bout Title Fight will be held in the hall of Imekhaya Primary School . . . with no other than the famous international boxing judge and referee Stanley Christodoulou as supervisor! 


stanly Christodoulou

Stanley Christodoulou has judged bouts in his native South Africa, as well as internationally with the WBA, with whom he is involved in leaderships roles dealing with officiating. 

Companies are urged to buy a few tickets @ R150 each to give some of their staff members the opportunity to attend this ground-breaking event on 13 October.

"We want to sell 1 000 tickets - make it HUGE! The Imekhaya Primary School Hall can easily accommodate such a crowd. There will also be plenty promotional opportunities for business branding and advertising. Businesses can also sponsor a fight or place a bet on a bout - whatever they prefer. We just want businesses to get involved to make this the beginning of a boxing revival in Mossel Bay," Faas enthused.

Businesses who would like to buy tickets for their staff or to help with sponsorships, can phone Faas (072 802 6225) or Qatu (064 099 1955).  Tickets are also available at Mossel Bay Craft Art Workshop (next to the Tourism Bureau),  the Tiger Kai Gym in the Prince Vintcent Building and other outlets. To save time, Karin and Roland can be contacted at the Craft Art Workshop @ 079 384 5299 or 082 408 2593 to prebook tickets with proof of EFT payment as they only accept cash.

EFT payments can be made to:

David Faas t/a Boxing Explosion

FNB Cheque Account No: 62781409323

Branch Code: 250655

Branch: Mossel Bay


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More about David Faas and his business


UNIVERSAL BOXING PROMOTIONS

Universal Boxing Promotions is a truly and wholly black owned, South African boxing promotion enterprise based in the Western Cape Province under the able and effective management of David Faas. It was founded on 13 July 1983 and has been most visible in boxing circles throughout South Africa and abroad.

The Promoter David Faas

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He is the Promoter with the longest service to boxing from among the previously disadvantaged communities and has brought more International Title bouts to his country than any of his competitors in that sector.

He is previously from Port Elizabeth, where he promoted with distinction. He is now operative in Cape Town where he made the Oliver Thambo Hall in Khayelitsha one of South Africa’s foremost boxing venues. The venue staged the South African title bout between Mzonke Fana and Wiseman Jim in February 2001.

This fight attracted the biggest paying audience in Cape Town’s history, exceeding the crowds at five world title bouts, which have been staged in Cape Town by other promoters in the past.

Faas is also active in staging fights in other areas such as Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, which shows devotion to the development of boxing at grass root level.

While in Port Elizabeth he made his mark on the International scene when he staged two All-Africa bouts and was also a first South African Promoter from any sector to stage an IBF International bout when Vuyo Nene met Indonesian Abdi Pohan. This attracted the largest crowd in Port Elizabeth's history - a record which still remains.

In addition, he has staged four South African title contests in Cape Town, all involving the junior lightweight champion Fana whom Faas built into an International figure and took to the UK for his attempt at the WBC International title which he unfortunately lost. 

He also took Wiseman Jim to the UK for a similar title chance, which ended in a draw, a result which was heavily criticized by the British press and TV commentators who said Jim had won comfortably. Faas has also taken a team of SA boxers to Indonesia.

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Unfortunately, like so many from the disadvantaged community, he has experienced continual difficulties in obtaining suitable and major sponsorship for his tournaments, which in itself has been a handicap to his gaining more elevated status in the bigger world of International Boxing.

With suitable backing he is certain to make the strides needed as he has the knowledge and determination to succeed.

Leonard Neil

S.A Boxing Publicist

 

 
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