Boxing promoter, Joyce Kungwane, is on a path to produce more women boxing champions in South Africa.
Kungwane, who is the partner of late three-time boxing champion, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, is adamant to make a change in the sport as she continues to pave the way for women to rise in boxing.
In September 2021, Kungwane played a vital role to host an all-women boxing tournament without sponsorship.
She says the biggest challenge facing women’s boxing in the country has been financial backing, which she hopes to change soon.
Speaking with Tlamelo Kganakga, Kungwane shares advice to women and girls who want to become promoters and reveals her greatest ambition.
Joyce, thank you for chatting to us. Please tell us about yourself and where you are from.
I’m a single mother to a 24-year-old son. I am a university graduate with Public Relations Management as Under Graduate and Labour Law Post Graduate (Honours). I am a professional boxing promoter with an international boxing license and I am from Gauteng, currently based in Pretoria.
When and where did your love for sport begin?
My love for sport is natural. My love for boxing was motivated by my late partner Lehlohonolo ‘Hands of Stone’ Ledwaba, who we buried in July 2021 – three-time former World champion.
As a promoter, what are the challenges you have faced in your career so far and what did you learn from them?
Challenges are mostly securing sponsorships /funding and of course bullying by male counterparts which I can proudly say I’m not moved by.
What would you say are some of the highlights in your career?
Being able to host successful tournaments under terrible circumstances of Covid-19, being able to help female boxers by getting them food parcels, grants and vouchers during hard lock down and of course putting out an all-female boxing tournament on the 24th of September 2021 without a sponsor.
If you weren’t a promoter, where would we find you?
Hahahaaa, you would still find me in sport.
Are there any sportswomen you admire and why?
No one specifically – all women in sport inspire me!
What do you enjoy most about your career?
Being able to assist boxers whose careers were on the verge of coming to an end.
What is your greatest ambition?
To produce more champions both males and females.
What’s your advice to young women who aspire to take the same career path?
To believe in themselves and never allow themselves to be manufactured and be taken advantage of.
What do you think we as media can do to amplify women’s sport?
You can give women more exposure in the media space.
Photo 1 Caption: Boxing promoter, Joyce Kungwane, is on a path to produce more women boxing champions in South Africa. Photo: Supplied / Nick Lourens Photography
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