Boxing Trainer & Manager Revamp Gym Where Champ Began

Boxing trainer Manny Fernandez, manager Brian Mitchell, and Fernandez’s son Richard refurbished a boxing ring at Sisonke Boxing Gym in Mdantsane, South Africa. The trio noticed the gym’s ring needed repair during a homecoming celebration for Siyakholwa “The One” Kuse, a WBC mini-flyweight champion who first trained at Sisonke. Fernandez, Mitchell, and Richard purchased new flooring and foam padding, then installed it with help from gym staff, acting without being asked.

Gym chairman Vuyolomzi Mtekwana expressed deep gratitude for the group’s generosity, noting the refurbished ring will inspire young boxers and provide a safer training environment. Kuse himself began his boxing journey at Sisonke, becoming the first WBC world champion from the Eastern Cape province.

The refurbishment signifies a commitment to fostering boxing talent and creating opportunities for future generations of athletes in the region. The gym hopes the improved facility will strengthen the community’s belief in its young boxers’ dreams.