Esteemed veteran boxing trainer Norman “Hitachi” Hlabane has dedicated his success of guiding Khaya Busakwe to victory for the South African lightweight title to late multiple weight world champion Lehlohonolo “Hands of Stone” Ledwaba.
Busakwe won the national title from Lusanda Komanisi at Orient Theatre on Saturday night. He was discovered by Ledwaba, who also went through the tutelage of Hlabane towards the end of his illustrious career. which saw him exchange leather with Filipino legend Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao.
Hlabane, 77, had already hung up his gloves after losing his wife and his only son to natural causes when Ledwaba knocked at his door, pleading with his former mentor to assist in training boxers at the Central Western Jabavu gym in Soweto.
Ledwaba began training fighters in that gym but challenges came when he, Jan Bergman, Dingaan Thobela, and Dr Chris Nteo acquired a promoter’s licence under TLB Promotion with Boxing SA.
However, regulations are clear that a licensee cannot hold dual licences. Hlabane took over and one of the fighters there was Busakwe, whose grandfathers (deceased) Howard and Junior Busakwe were Hlabane’s gym mates when he was still a professional boxer at Water Branch Boxing Gym at Village Main.
Within a short space of time, the hard-hitting Busakwe, nicknamed “Destroyer”, won the Gauteng title in his fifth fight. He tried to add the national belt but suffered a ninth-round stoppage loss to then champion Tshifhiwa Munyai in 2021.
Munyai was dethroned by Komanisi on September 17 last year. Komanisi’s dislocated shoulder ended his reign in what was his first defence on Saturday night.
“This one is for Lehlohonolo,” said Hlabane, who dismissed reports that the defending champion from Mdantsane was controlling the fight.
“That nonsense. Get to see the fight and you will realise that Khaya controlled the fight with his jab. It feels great to help a young man like Khaya win a national title. This boy is dedicated. He comes to the gym jogging every day.”
Ledwaba died on July 2 2022. Hlabane was expected to quit the sport when Ledwaba passed on.
“This sport gets into you and it occupies your whole life. You cannot just walk away from it.”
He is credited with the success of many fighters, most notably Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela and Peter “The Destroyer” Malinga, who became dual world champions
Mpumelelo Tshabalala retained his SA junior-flyweight belt with a sixth-round stoppage of Athenkosi Thongwana in the international tournament that was staged by Xaba Promotion on Saturday night.
Malinga and his younger brothers – Patrick and Vusi – have their stable in Katlehong. The gym belongs to their father (deceased) Jabulani Malinga. He was a professional boxer whose skills were polished by Hlabane ,who later trained Malinga’s sons while Jabulani was his assistant before he went solo.
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