Best South African Boxers

South Africa has produced some incredible boxers throughout the history of the sport. There have been multiple South African boxers, who won world titles and fought legendary fighters.

Here is a list of the best South African boxers of all time. Check out the list below and next time one of these boxers enters the ring be sure to get the latest odds on the Betway app download.

Brian Mitchell

Brian Mitchell was easily one of the best South African boxers in history. Mitchell was a 2x super featherweight world champion, who was one of the division’s best during the 1980s/1990s.

In Brian’s first year as a pro, he quickly made a name for himself by defeating top contender Jacon Morake.  He would find even more success during his boxing career by winning the WBA and IBF super lightweight titles.

As the WBA champion, Brian never lost the title in the ring and defended it an astounding 12 times. The South African great would retire as champion and made a short comeback on two occasions to fight in South Africa. 

His legacy was cemented with his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.

Vic Toweel

Vic Toweel is one of the best South African boxers and holds the honor of being the country’s first world champion. The Benoni Atom had a short, but successful boxing career during the late 1940s to early 1950s.

Toweel became the first South African boxing world champion in 1950 by defeating Manuel Ortiz. This victory occurred just 17 months after competing at the Olympics before turning pro and recording 14 pro fights by then.

The first South African champ held the world title for two years. His biggest win during that reign was against Danny Sullivan, who he knocked down an astounding 14 times.

Vic then went on to fight Jimmy Carruthers in two bouts before retiring from the sport in 1954.

Jacob Matlala

Jacob Matlala is not only one of the best South African boxers, but one of the all-time great flyweights and light-flyweights. He was just 4’10, but Matlala had the heart of a lion and was the WBO flyweight and light-flyweight champion.

During his impressive run, Matlala traveled the world fighting the best flyweights in the world. In his final pro fight, Jacob won the WBU 108 lb title and presented the belt to Nelson Mandela at ringside.

When Jacob had an incredible 22-year career and went down as a South African legend.

Gerrie Coetzee

Gerrie Coetzee is another one of the best South African boxers. The Boksburg bomber made history by becoming the first South African world heavyweight champion after defeating the great Michael Dokes. 

This was the third time challenging for the WBA heavyweight title after losing to Mike Weaver and John Tate. Along with winning the world title, Coetzee also scored an impressive KO over former undisputed heavyweight champ Leon Spinks.

Vuyani Bungu

Last on our short list of the best South African boxers goes to former champion Vuyani Bungu. Vuyani shocked the world in 1994 by handing Kennedy McKinney his first loss and won the IBF Super Bantamweight Championship.

Ring Magazine gave Bungu the upset of the year honors in 1994 for his impressive performance. Bungu defended his title 13 times before moving up to featherweight. Another great South African boxer who made history.