Boxing personalities who worked with departed veteran broadcaster and celebrated boxing, cricket and rugby commentator Dumile Mateza relived fond memories they had with the larger than life man who became popular for referring to sporting personalities as “Unkabi”.
Mateza died on Tuesday at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto after a battle with colon cancer.
Former SA, WBO and WBA lightweight and WBC super-middleweight world champion Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela who worked with late Mateza and Bert Blewett (who died in 2008) as co-presenters for SABC’s Blow by Blow, magazine said: “He tried to help boxing by capturing the sport afloat; also served as CEO of the interim SA Boxing Control Commission. He did everything he could do for boxing. I will remember him for his accent which entertained people in boxing, cricket and rugby when doing live commentary. He was a willing horse and we will always remember him for his jolly personality.”
Mateza will also be remembered for love for singing. He is the first black commentator to cover rugby matches in Afrikaans.
In boxing arenas, Mateza would be the only South African to properly sing anthems of most of international countries.
Former SA and WBU welterweight champion Jan “Kid Gavilan” Bergman – who also worked with Mateza for Blow by Blow: said: “Dumile was the best boxing commentator and marketing of the sport. He was brutal honest with his issues and he pulled no punches. He had a good following and his tactics of getting people excited was very good and he inspired me a lot. We are losing legends left and right. It is what we have to face, though. We should move on.”
Thokozani Gazo, who was a producer for Blow by Blow, said: “I remember the fight between Cassius Baloyi and Malcolm Klassen in Mafikeng in 2009 and Mateza was at his best as the commentator. The most profound moment was when we visited Peter Mathebula (former WBA flyweight champ) in Randfontein. Mathebula was so happy to see Mateza. We did a wonderful interview and Mathebula started talking about the late administrator Stanley Sono and late Sowetan boxing writer Junior Motsei.
“How can I forget the interview we had with Mike Tyson; whenever a boxing personality passed away Mateza would write a wonderful script after a thorough research. He loved his craft and was a peoples’ person who would interview anyone without difficulty. I’ve learnt and benefited a lot from him.”
Mateza was born in Kareendow in Eastern Cape but was based in Kensington, east of Johannesburg. He leaves behind his wife and three children.
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