Floats Like A Butterfly Stings Like $25 Million
Forbes Africa|July 2017

It could become one of the biggest fights in African history – another Rumble in the Jungle before thousands in a stadium. Bad news is government first has to cover the $25-million purse. At the center of it all is an African boxer licking his wounds.

Thobile Hans
Floats Like A Butterfly Stings Like $25 Million

American boxing manager, Peter Kahn, has been busy trying to find a bigname opponent for his South African boxer to fight on home soil. On July 2, the Miami-based promoter will be in Brisbane, Australia, to solicit a fight with the winner of the bout between Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn.

His boxer, Chris van Heerden, born in Johannesburg and fighting out of Santa Monica, California, was convinced the fight against the Filipino Pacquiao, planned for November, was on the cards after his camp approached the office of the former minister of sports, Fikile Mbalula, late last year. But since Mbalula is no longer sports minister, things have been sketchy.

Boxing South Africa (BSA), the sport’s national body, says it is open to the fight but needs Kahn to make the first step.

“They must contact the [sport] department so that they can advise with authority on this issue,” says BSA Chief Executive Officer, Tsholofelo Lejaka. “Boxing SA remains open and willing to discuss with any role-player who seek to develop or promote our sport of boxing.”

In a telephone interview, Kahn says he is still determined to bring one of the biggest fights in African history to the FNB stadium in Johannesburg. He says it can be organized if the government covers the estimated $25 million purse. The country last hosted big names 17 years ago in Brakpan, Johannesburg. In a shock, Lennox Lewis lost his world heavyweight title to Hasim Rahman.

“Unless South Africa is willing to work with Chris, like other countries do with their boxers, it is not going to happen, but we would like to bring Chris home,” says Kahn.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2017 من Forbes Africa.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2017 من Forbes Africa.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من FORBES AFRICA مشاهدة الكل
TRACK, WATCH, BEFRIEND
Forbes Africa

TRACK, WATCH, BEFRIEND

IN THE PRISTINE WILDERNESS OF GABON ARE THE MAJESTIC AND GENTLE WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS. A FIRSTHAND REPORT FROM OUR TRAVEL WRITER ON WHAT GOES INTO HABITUATING THEM.

time-read
4 mins  |
August - September 2024
CHALLENGING BUT NECESSARY: THE AI BALANCING PROBLEM
Forbes Africa

CHALLENGING BUT NECESSARY: THE AI BALANCING PROBLEM

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues transforming many industries, providing unprecedented opportunities for innovation and efficiency. However, these advancements bring complex challenges that necessitate a delicate balancing act.

time-read
3 mins  |
August - September 2024
BEYOND ACADEMIA: THE SOCIETAL IMPACT OF MULTILATERAL EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
Forbes Africa

BEYOND ACADEMIA: THE SOCIETAL IMPACT OF MULTILATERAL EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

The great poet William Butler Yeats once said, \"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.\"

time-read
3 mins  |
August - September 2024
The Business Of Dance: Embracing One's Individuality And Style
Forbes Africa

The Business Of Dance: Embracing One's Individuality And Style

In the dynamic world of street dance, passion and perseverance pave the way for success. Living out this ethos is South African born B-girl turned businesswoman, Courtnaé Paul.

time-read
2 mins  |
August - September 2024
COMPASSION FATIGUE: THE DANGEROUS DESCENT FROM HELPING TO HURTING
Forbes Africa

COMPASSION FATIGUE: THE DANGEROUS DESCENT FROM HELPING TO HURTING

It is a workplace reality that caring too much for your colleagues can hurt you.

time-read
2 mins  |
August - September 2024
IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CRITICAL TO FIND OUR NICHE
Forbes Africa

IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CRITICAL TO FIND OUR NICHE

Have you found your niche? I received a lot of advice when I set up my company, but perhaps the most important consisted of just three words: Find Your Niche.

time-read
3 mins  |
August - September 2024
HOW TO MAKE AFRICA WIN OFF THE FIELD TOO
Forbes Africa

HOW TO MAKE AFRICA WIN OFF THE FIELD TOO

When all else fails, try sports. It's good for the soul.

time-read
2 mins  |
August - September 2024
BEAN THERE, DONE THAT
Forbes Africa

BEAN THERE, DONE THAT

British author Roald Dahl tapped into every chocoholic's imagination when creating Willy Wonka's bizarre chocolate factory in his 1964 children's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

time-read
6 mins  |
August - September 2024
IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN WORKING WITH AL PACINO ON BROADWAY'
Forbes Africa

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN WORKING WITH AL PACINO ON BROADWAY'

Arnold Vosloo Actor

time-read
2 mins  |
August - September 2024
BLENDED FINANCE: BRIDGING THE GAP IN EMERGING MARKETS IN SUPPORT OF THE SDGS
Forbes Africa

BLENDED FINANCE: BRIDGING THE GAP IN EMERGING MARKETS IN SUPPORT OF THE SDGS

Amid the widespread global support for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there was an underlying concern among economists and financial advisors in the emerging and frontier markets: public sector and donor funds were stalled, if not regressing, and the funding gap to realize the SDGs was increasing.

time-read
2 mins  |
August - September 2024