Victor Mpiyakhe, who fought from 1971 to 1982 and won the Transvaal and South African featherweight title on two occasions, passed away on Monday. He was 74.
Victor, who was born in Pimville, Soweto, on 8 April 1947, was more than a boxer as he was also a qualified as a schoolteacher and a television producer.
As a young boy he became interested in boxing and under the guidance of trainers Derek Luthayi and Ike Nkumane at the Progressive Boys Club in Mofolo he developed into a top-class amateur.
He was a finalist in in the featherweight class in the Johannesburg and District Championships in 1967 and continued in the amateur ranks before making his pro debut on 2 July 1971 at the Boiketlong Hall in in Dobsonville, Soweto, winning on points over four rounds against Aaron Nkala.
At the time fighters were matched with the best fighters in the division and there was no padding of records, and he went in against one the best featherweights around who never won a South African title, Alfred Buqwana, losing on points over six rounds.
On 30 August 1974 he outpointed Joseph Tsotetsi over ten rounds in a clash for the vacant Transvaal featherweight title and retained the title against Thomas Sithebe, and then captured the South African featherweight title with a 12-round points victory over Gideon “Toughie” Borias on 23 October 1975 at the DH Williams Hall in Katlehong, Germiston.
However, in his first defence, less than nine months later, he lost the title to Tsietsie Maretloane in East London.
After scoring victories over the vastly experienced Joe Gumede and Tadios Fisher and losing on points to Jay Nardo in Salisbury (Harare), he regained the South African featherweight title with a points victory over Bashew Sibaca (36-13) in Cape Town.
But in a return match with Sibaca on 14 April 1979, he lost the SA title when he was knocked out in the fifth round, to suffer his only inside-the-distance loss.
After this setback, he went in with quality fighters like Langton Tinago (12-3-2), fighting to a draw over eight rounds and losing on points to Nkosana “Happyboy” Ngxaji (55-12-2).
His long career was coming to an end and in his last four fights, he met Thomas Sithebe (D 6), Herbert “Chilliboy” Plaatjies (L 6), and Joshua Nhlapo (L 10) for the vacant Transvaal featherweight title, and in his last bout on 15 October 1982 at the Diepkloof Community Hall in Soweto, he lost on points over six rounds against Job Sisanga.
Victor finished his career with a 19-12-4; 3 record and, even though he lost 12 fights, he met some of the best fighters around at the time.
In the latter part of his career, he was trained by former four-time South African and British Empire champion Willie Toweel.
While pursuing his boxing career, Victor continued with his career as a schoolteacher at the Soweto Primary School and studied for a higher diploma which enabled him to teach at the Daliwongo High School in Dube.
He subsequently became a television producer in 1981 for the TV2 and TV3 sports department.
Even though he was born a Xhosa, Victor was fluent in several languages, including Zulu.
I got to know Victor when he was the producer for the then SA Boxing World and King Korn Annual Boxing Awards in the 1980s, and will always remember this lively man working non-stop to ensure a top-class production.
Source SuperSport