Bravo to boxing’s big mouths

HotWhat do Charlie Weir, Dingaan Thobela and Baby Jake Matlala have in common?

Apart from being champion fighters, they were among the most charismatic in SA boxing history.

Reporters and fans were constantly drawn to them.

Those days are long gone, though, and few local boxers occupy a place in the public consciousness. Some of our best are known only to hard-core followers.

As accomplished as they are, they have little to no idea about self-marketing. They sit back waiting for their profiles to rocket, with little to no idea how to put themselves out there.

Which is why I’m so encouraged by the efforts of Colin Nathan, the trainer (and my best boxing mate), and Hayden Jones, a local journalist, in putting together a weekly boxing vodcast on YouTube – Hot Boxing Talk.

Now into its 12th week, the broadcasts are done on a shoestring, but they’re high-energy offerings that tap into the sport’s zeitgeist. Boxers pop in to chat, local experts offer their views and there’s sometimes a bit of stirring to keep the boxing pot on the boil. It’s good, solid stuff.

I cracked the nod this week and was happy to give my two cents’ worth. Take a look here:

With his warm, confident style, Nathan is a natural host, which probably isn’t surprising given that he has television experience.

Nathan is one of the few local fight figures to really put himself out there. He is engaging and actively seeks out journalists and influencers (he has an open media day next Wednesday, for instance).

The result is that his boxers, among them world champion Hekkie Budler, get more of the spotlight than most. Another top man, light-heavyweight contender Ryno Liebenberg, is a master of shtick and is never short of a quote or six. First class.

I just wish it was an attitude that ran throughout SA boxing.