But little is known about South African boxers despite their significant accomplishments and achievements in the field of sports.
How much do you know about South Africa world champion boxers?
Some like Vuyani Bungu have won 39 titles in their career with 19 knock-out matches and 44 bouts.
Boxer Zolani Tete during the press conference at the Savoy Hotel, London. Photo: Steven PastonSource: Getty Images
This alone demonstrates the richness of thesportin South Africa.
Best South African boxers
Boxing is one of the most loved sports in South Africa.
Similarly, some of the greatest boxers in African history hail from this country.
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Here is the list of the best ones.
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1.
He defied the odds by scooping the title in a knock-out punch during the tenth round.
South African heavyweight boxer Gerrie Coetzee training in Johannesburg. Photo: Bob ThomasSource: Getty Images
He is the only athlete to have successfully defended his heavyweight title for three consecutive occasions.
He lost the belt to Hasim Rahman in 2000.
He won the vacant WBF title beating Dan Jerling through a knock-out.
Corrie Sanders celebrates his victory over Wladimir Klitschko during the WBO heavyweight fight. Photo: Stuart FranklinSource: Getty Images
Peter McNeely stripped off the title in under 42 seconds.
He ended up claiming his first WBF heavyweight title.
His return to the boxing world was marked with yet another unanimous decision victory against Bob Mirovic.
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5.
He won his first senior title in 1956 at the Melbourne Olympics.
He took part in the 1952 summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and won a bronze medal.
Mike holding out his fist. Photo: BoxingForAlISource: Twitter
Young Pluto - Featherweight champion
Young Pluto is of mixed nationality between SA and Canada.
His category is featherweight where he excelled significantly winning the World Featherweight title against George Dixon and Dawson City.
Young Pluto spent much of his growing up in Australia and later South Africa.
Francois Botha poses during the weigh in ahead of tomorrow night’s bout at Trusts Stadium. Photo: SandraSource: Getty Images
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8.
His career was decorated by titles and awards unrivalled by none during this period.
He was nominated #80 best boxer in the Top 100 Boxers of All Time.
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He was also nominated #28 of 30 best boxers of the 1980s.
His prowess in the ring never went unrewarded as he garnered different titles during his career.
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11.
Daniel Bekker during one of the matches. Photo: BoxingForAlISource: Getty Images
He held the Junior featherweight title between 1994 and 1999.
He also held the IBO featherweight title between 2004 and 2005.
He had 39 wins in 44 matches from which 19 were knock-outs and only five losses.
Boxer Willie Toweel working as a garage mechanic. Photo: Terence SpencerSource: Getty Images
Virgil Kalakoda - Light middleweight champion
Virgil was born on December 24, 1979.
He grew up in South Africa where he nurtured and grew his boxing career.
His career started in 1981 to 2000 were he competed in the middleweight category.
Boxer Pluto posing for a photo: Photo: BoxingForAlISource: Instagram
Between 1996 and 1998, Malinga held the WBC super-middleweight title twice.
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14.
Phillip N’dou - Featherweight champion
Phillip is a South African based boxer born on May 4, 1977.
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Bogani Mahlangu - Super bantamweight champion
Bogani was born on October 7, 1979.
His most memorable bout is during the All-Africa games held in 2007 where he won the lightweight title.
However, he never managed to retain it in subsequent competitions.
South African boxer Jacob holding out a drink. Photo: BoxingForAlISource: Twitter
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He dripped the title in 2019 after a defeat by Joh Riel Casimero.
Ladumo Lamati
Ladumo Lamati is one fight shy of becoming the WBC super-bantam champion.
Gerrie Coetzee calm and composed. Photo: @GerrieCoetzeeSource: Instagram
The WBA, WBC, and IBF rank Kevin among the top 10 boxers in the world.
His only defeat during his career was back in 2014 against Johnny Muller.
He has won numerous titles including the Cruiserweight championship in 2016.
Boxer Mzukisi Sikali on the pitch. Photo: BoxingForAlISource: Twitter
He has won three of his last bouts including against Denis Lebedev of Russia.
South Africa is flowing with talent from athletics, boxing, soccer, and rugby, among others.
The list is dominated by actors and media personalities who are between twenty and fifty years old.
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Some of these celebrities have changed careers to focus on their talents.
These stars are role models to the uprising celebrities.
She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi and joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019.
Vuyani Bungu during the weigh-in at the Hilton Hotel in London. Photo: Sean DempseySource: Getty Images
The writer completed a Google News Initiate Course.
you’ve got the option to email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
Virgil Kalakoda fighting his opponent. Photo: BoxingForAlISource: Twitter
Portrait of Thulani Malinga. Photo: Howard BoylanSource: Getty Images
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Philip N’dou moves against Yoni Vargas. Photo: Jed JacobsohnSource: Getty Images
Bongani Mahlangu. Photo: Ross LandSource: Getty Images
Owethu Mbira. Photo: Guang NiuSource: Getty Images
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Zolani Tete taking part in an open workout. Photo: Charles McQuillanSource: Getty Images
Lamati showcasing his belt. Photo: BoxingForAlISource: Getty Images
Kevin Lerena during the Cruiserweight bout. Photo: Lee WarrenSource: Getty Images
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Professional boxer Thabiso Mchunu in his bout during a boxing night. Photo: Donat SorokinSource: Getty Images
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