Nkosana Mgxaji, one of the best SA boxers never to win a world title, has died in Durban at the age of 61.
The almost legendary “Happyboy” was among the very best of the many outstanding fighters from the Eastern Cape.
Mgxaji had lost only once in 73 fights when, at the age of 30, he challenged Samuel Serrano of Puerto Rico for the WBA junior lightweight title.
They met before a crowd of about 6 000 at the Show Grounds in Goodwood, Cape Town, on April 14, 1979.
Mgxaji’s “go-go gyrations” initially gave Serrano problems. However, SA Boxing Worldreported that there was no happiness for Happyboy, who “clowned” his way through the bout.
Mgxaji dropped the champion with a cracking right to the jaw in the fifth round but instead of following up he stood back and allowed Serrano to recover.
Serrano, defending his title for the ninth time, tagged Mgxaji with a left hook to the jaw and a right to the body in the eighth.
Mgxaji went down but got up at the count of eight. However, he was in no condition to continue. His chief second, Ronnie Madinda, threw in the towel and referee Larry Rozadilla stopped the fight 1 minute 34 seconds into the round.
Mgxaji eventually retired with a record of 88 wins, 9 losses, 4 draws and 26 knockouts.
He was born in Tsolo Location, which later became Duncan Village, near East London, on September 18, 1949.
He began boxing in the Peacock Hall at he was eight years old. He called himself “Blueboy” but later switched to “Happyboy,” which referred to his late brother.
On June 24, 1972, Mgxaji had his first crack at a national title when he took on Anthony Morodi for the SA junior lightweight belt. They met at Jabulani, near Johannesburg.
Morodi was too experienced and Mgxaji suffered his first loss; beaten on points over 12 rounds.
When Mgxaji beat Moses Mthembu on points over eight rounds on September 2, 1972, it was the first time that boxing had been staged at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane. He regularly attracted crowds of more than 25 000 to the venue later in his career.
Nkosana “Happyboy” Mgxaji Biography by Super Sport continued