Boxing legend Eric “Iron Man” Baloyi is held with high regards in his home town of Giyani and beyond.
In the dusty streets of Giyani, boxing legend Eric Baloyi is widely venerated of the demigod of the pugilistic sport.
Affectionately known as “Uncle Eric” and anointed with the moniker of “The Iron Man” during his heydays, Baloyi’s name is on every boxing follower’s lips all over the province following a series of successful boxing tournaments staged at the Malamulele boxing gymnasium.
The tourneys, which were conducted under the auspices of the Limpopo Amateur Boxing Organisation, always attract artistic boxers from all the five districts of the province.
Baloyi is certainly the Godfather of the game and when he issued invitations to local boxing federations, they obliged without any tinge of hesitation.
“There is still a lot of interest among the youth who want to pursue careers in boxing. All they need are proper governing structures to guide them through” said Baloyi.
His regiments of zealous, unwavering supporters see him as nothing less than the saviour of local boxing.
Apart from coordinating successful tournaments recently that featured 27 bouts, he has saved young troubled boys from the underworld of crime and threw them into the boxing ring.
The R15 million boxing gymnasium, a state-of-the-art indoor arena located a heartbeat from Baloyi’s house, has become a second home for many budding boxers in his neighbourhood.
Baloyi say these tournaments play a momentous role in instilling the love of boxing among youngsters who want to follow in the footsteps of local role models such as Cassius Baloyi, Phillip Ndou, Joseph Makaringe and Isaac Hlatshwayo.
Baloyi, who is the father of world-renowned multiple title conqueror Cassius, said Limpopo’s top fighters were discovered in similar tournaments like the ones stages at the Giyani arena.
Cassius remains the only South African fighter to win six world titles in three different weight divisions, while Ndou held the WBU strap. Hlatshwayo was the IBO lightweight and IBO and IBF welterweight champion, while Makaringe was the national welterweight king.
All these fighters, as well as Jeffrey Mathebula, Vincent Vuma and Oscar Chauke, were trained by Baloyi in the amateur ranks.
Whenever he is given a chance to walk down memory lane, Baloyi narrates the 1974 trip to Cuba where he told the local media there that his wife Sannie was pregnant and that she was going to give birth to a baby boy who will later become an accomplished boxer.
That dream came true!