With age quickly catching up with him, 41-year-old Thinandavha Goodman Ravhutsi wants to be remembered as one of the best professional boxers to emerge from the rural village of Makonde, north of Thohoyandou. He feels his time in the bare-knuckle musangwe league is over and is now aiming for the professional boxing ranks. To realise this dream, he needs trainers and promoters to support him.
"I have been participating in musangwe tournaments for many years and it is now time to graduate into professional boxing. My main challenge now is to get people who will help me to realise my dream. Since my childhood days, I vowed that I would one day become a professional boxer who would make a mark in the South African boxing fraternity," he said.
He fell in love with boxing at a young age. "My late grandfather, Salmon Balance Ravhutsi, was a musangwe champion feared across Venda. When he passed on, I vowed to pick up the spear and continue his legacy. Now that things are changing, I believe it's the right time to start a new chapter."
Ravhutsi said he trained daily, morning and evening. "Although I don't have a proper gym, I do my best to stay fit. My punching bag is my best friend – it keeps me busy every day. I'm as fit as a fiddle and will eliminate any professional boxer who comes my way," he said.
"I've fought and won countless musangwe bouts and built up a big fan base. I once fought Ngwazi, the famous musangwe champion, and the fight lasted over 10 minutes, with neither of us backing down. The organisers stopped it without declaring a winner because fists were falling like thunder showers. Since then, no one has wanted to face me – they know my fists are unmatched."
Those who wish to assist him can contact him on 079 350 3582 or via Facebook (Thinandavha Gman Ravhutsi).