Despite not having won a single professional title during his boxing years, Port Elizabeth coach Caiphus Ntante has proven he has hands of gold.
He is behind the success of World Boxing Federation (WBF) titleholder Nozipho Bell, who fought against Terri Harper for a chance at the vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Super Featherweight title at the Magna Centre in Rotherham, England, on Friday night.
Ntante, who lives in Walmer Township, has produced many amateur and professional champions from Port Elizabeth.
“I love winning – that’s my name,” he said.
“I have a very strong development programme in my gym and some boxers have turned professional already.
“My aim is to make sure we win international titles – I have won SA titles, but now I am going for international titles.
“Now that I have been recognised by international promoters, I want to make sure I learn as much as I can learn from them.
“In 10 years I want to retire.” The 48-year-old former welterweight boxer has been a formidable force in the development of boxing not just in the Bay, but in the province as well.
Ntante started his career at the Dragon Boxing Club in Alexandra, Johannesburg, where he was born.
He later moved to Port Elizabeth, where he joined the Phinx Boxing Club.
“I turned professional in 1990, when I was 18 years old.
“Linda Nonzaba, a former SA champion, was also in the stable; I used to spar with him at the gym.
“Later I joined a stable which Phumzile Madikane was part of.
“As a professional boxer I never won any title, but the love of the game was huge – so much so that, in 1999, I decided to form a club in Joe Slovo called the New Age Boxing Club.
“In 1999, I resigned from boxing because I wanted to focus on my studies.” The New Age Boxing Club gave birth to many SA champions at amateur level, including Gift Ncisane, who later turned professional and became the WBF International Miniflyweight champion.
The club also advanced Lungisa Jikane and Anelisa Gunqisa, who were both SA champions.
“My first professional boxer I produced was China Mdlalo,” Ntante said.
“He was junior middle Eastern Cape champion in 2010. “Then there is Nozipho Bell. “We started working together in 2016, and my goal is to make sure she wins more titles.”
In his 15 years of coaching , Ntante said his biggest highlight was when Bell won the WBF title in March.
However, he said winning his first provincial title with Mdlalo also held a special place in his heart.
He believes that, to produce more star boxers, the Bay has to host more amateur fights.
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