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Zantsi voted best promoter

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Mbali Zantsi is the first woman to win WBF promoter of the year. Picture: Bongani Mnguni
Mbali Zantsi is the first woman to win WBF promoter of the year. Picture: Bongani Mnguni

Mbali “Don Queen” Zantsi has been voted best promoter by the World Boxing Federation (WBF) for 2015/16.

This was announced by WBF president Howard Goldberg on Friday, saying the Showtime Boxing Promotion boss was the first-ever promoter in the country to get such an accolade. Zantsi is the country’s first female fight impresario.

According to Goldberg, the decision by the world governing body to honour the Port Elizabeth-born Zantsi was due to the fact that she staged two title bouts in the space of four months when boxing returned to SABC television screens after a four-year blackout.

“Her two shows featured a total of four WBF championship fights, including three women’s titles,” said Goldberg.

“It’s the first time in the history of the WBF annual awards that a woman wins the Promoter of the Year category, but in this case it’s highly deserving and appropriate that this young lady, who has done so much for women in boxing in South Africa, is taking home the honours.”

An elated Zantsi said she was “extremely honoured” to be recognised by the world body, whose headquarters are in Germany.

“This is a huge honour for me to be recognised by the WBF for the work that I’m doing – to promote the sport, particularly women’s boxing,” said Zantsi.

“It’s humbling to be thanked for uplifting the standard of black boxers, especially females. It shows that I’m doing the right thing.”

The impresario ventured into the fistic trade in 2003, and to date has promoted more than 30 fights.

Zantsi said she was grateful to the office of the sports ministry and Boxing SA (BSA) for enabling her to put women’s boxing in the spotlight.

“In fact, BSA chairperson Ntambi Ravele actually ensured that I got the necessary support to promote fights for ladies,” she said.

The vacant WBF super bantamweight title featuring Gabisile Tshabalala and Unathi Myekeni that took place at Graceland Casino in Secunda, Mpumalanga, in August – and was promoted by Zantsi – was voted Best Fight of the Year.

Tshabalala, who fights out of KwaZulu-Natal, won that bout by majority decision.

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