Eastern Cape’s Silent Quest for the WBC Crown

By LINDA XIMBA

For a province widely regarded as the “Mecca of Boxing” for its rich production of world and national champions, it is almost unfathomable that the Eastern Cape has yet to produce a World Boxing Council (WBC) world champion.

Boxer Kuse with his opponent, Wanheng Menayothin, in Thailand

Winning the coveted green-and-gold belt sanctioned by the World Boxing Council remains the ultimate achievement in professional boxing, and over the years the Eastern Cape has produced fighters who have come close—but not quite captured it.

Mdantsane’s proud lineage of champions

The province’s boxing heartbeat, the Mdantsane township in the Eastern Cape, has long been a cradle of champions and grit, producing fighters who have dominated across multiple world sanctioning bodies, including the World Boxing Organisation, World Boxing Association, and International Boxing Organisation.

The late Welcome Ncita became the first from the region and South Africa to claim a world title when he won the IBF junior-featherweight belt in 1990 in Israel, defeating Fabrice Benichou. He paved the way for a proud lineage that includes Vuyani Bungu, Mbulelo Botile, Masibulele Makepula, Zolani Tete, Sivenathi Nontshinga, and Phumelela Cafu, who have carried the province onto the global stage by winning titles across different sanctioning bodies.

Yet the WBC crown has remained elusive. Simphiwe Konkco came close in 2019 when he challenged for the mini-flyweight title but fell short on points against Wanheng Menayothin in Thailand.

Vuyani Bungu, one of the recent boxing legend from the Eastern Cape

Kuse’s redemption fight

Now, all eyes turn to Siyakholwa Kuse, who has a chance to end that long-standing drought when he challenges WBC mini-flyweight champion Melvin Jerusalem at Kempton Park in Johanesburg on May 16. This is a rematch, and Kuse—buoyed by home support and sharpened by experience—will be seeking redemption after a narrow split-decision loss in their previous encounter.

The 26-year-old southpaw from Mdantsane, who has already held the SA and ABU titles, currently owns the WBC silver belt he claimed after defeating Beaven Sibanda at Emperors Palace in December last year.

In a show of confidence, the defending champion has arrived in South Africa two weeks early to acclimatise to Highveld conditions ahead of the bout.

For Kuse, this fight is more than a title shot—it is a personal redemption story. His journey has included overcoming drug addiction that nearly derailed his career, before being guided back into structure and stability under manager Mlamuleli Tengimfene.

At 25, he now stands on the brink of joining an exclusive group of South Africans who have held the WBC world title—among them Thulani Malinga, the late Dingaan Thobela, and Kevin Lerena.

The elusive green‑and‑gold belt

The question now is whether Eastern Cape’s long wait is finally about to end—or whether the WBC crown will remain the one belt that continues to evade its proud boxing heartland.

The WBC, World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organisation are widely recognised as the four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. Each operates independently, maintaining its own world rankings and awarding championship belts across 17 weight divisions.

The WBC, founded in 1963 and headquartered in Mexico City, is one of the most prestigious organisations in the sport, known for its iconic green-and-gold belt.

Below it, the other three major bodies also carry significant global weight:

The WBA, established in 1921 and based in Panama, is the oldest of the major organisations and is known for its unique structure of multiple champions in some divisions, including “Super” and “Regular” titles.

The IBF, founded in 1983 in the United States, has built a reputation for enforcing strict mandatory title defenses, often shaping the activity level of champions.

The WBO, created in 1988 in Puerto Rico, was the last of the four to gain full recognition as a major sanctioning body in the early 2000s, but is now firmly established among boxing’s elite organisations. TQ