American boxing trainer Kenny Adams’ death in April has been mourned worldwide, but his impact in Mdantsane will leave imprints that will remain forever for different reasons.
Adams, 84, represented a symbol of disdain in SA for engineering the loss of the township’s first world champion, Welcome Ncita, when he was knocked out by Adams’ charge Kennedy McKinney to surrender his IBF junior-featherweight crown in December 1992, a loss that shrouded the country in gloom.
Seemingly running away with the win, as he even made McKinney turn his back only for referee Steve Smoger to turn a blind eye instead of stopping the fight, Ncita pressed for a stoppage on the visibly exhausted American Olympian before walking into a chopping blow that pole-axed him a round before the end.
McKinney repeated the feat, winning a decision when Ncita could not see properly due to swollen eyes.
In a remarkable twist, an unassuming youngster, Vuyani Bungu, whose then claim to international fame was serving as Ncita’s sparring partner, stunned McKinney to take Ncita’s old belt in August 1994 before beating him again three years later.
Adams’ boxing involvement with SA continued when he helped DeeJay Kriel win the IBF mini-flyweight title in 2019.
But it was a fortuitous meeting with budding Mdantsane manager Andile “Ace Mshumpela” in Las Vegas that would leave a lasting legacy to boxing in East London.
Mshumpela was on a three-month scholarship in Sweden in 2019 when he learnt that Mdantsane’s Zolani Tete was scheduled to fight Nonito Donaire in Lafayette, Louisiana, in April that year.
He flew to the fight, making a detour in Las Vegas to visit famous boxing clubs and met Adams, who introduced him to gymnasiums in the area.
There was also a Boxing Expo where Adams introduced him to former and current world champions, some he had trained.
“I met the likes of Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Hasim Rahman, you name them,” Mshumpela said.
He said Adams took him under his wing and influenced him to play an active role in boxing, prompting him to open his own club when he returned home.
He launched Mshu One Boxing Management, teaming up with wheelchair-bound Luvuyo Tyamzashe to open a boxing club at NU7 Mdantsane, which has been producing champions.
Tyamzashe and Mshumpela were recently honoured by sports minister Gayton McKenzie, with Tyamzashe handed a motorised wheelchair accompanied by an R80,000 cheque while Mshumpela received R20,000 for his dedication to the sport.
Mshumpela continued to communicate with Adams, seeking advice on several boxing-related matters, including running his club until Adams’ death on April 7.
“To say I was devastated by the news of his death would be an understatement.
“That guy was my mentor, and given that our meeting was not planned, it made it feel like I was handed to him by God to guide me.”
Through Adams, Mshumepla was able to meet McKinney, who accepted his first loss to Bungu but disputed the second, claiming he was robbed.
However, as boxing never holds grudges, the pair used the experience to strike a friendship, with regular calls for sport updates.
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.