Sandra Almeida’s name was associated with being a rebel when she left to fight professionally in New Zealand before women’s boxing was upgraded to the paid ranks.
However, the East London boxer is regarded as a pioneer of women’s boxing after the dynamics of her New Zealand trip shone a light on the sport back home and galvanised a change.
Now 42, Almeida, who went on to become a two-division SA champion and challenged for world titles, is still harbouring yet another run to achieve more in the sport.
She had been receiving numerous offers abroad, but due to her long layoff, having not fought in seven years, a brain scan has proved a stumbling block.
“Finally, I will do a brain scan on August 22, after which I will renew my licence and continue with my boxing journey,” she said.
Her career was fraught with challenges.
Her defiant New Zealand trip in 2007, when she accepted a bout against Daniela Smith, nearly turned tragic.
Unaware that she was pregnant, Almeida had a miscarriage on the flight but hid the incident from New Zealand boxing officials, fearing they might cancel the fight.
She had been licensed in the country, as she could not be issued a licence back home, with women not yet allowed to fight professionally.
“Let me admit that I was young and arrogant at the time, and I could not turn down the fight in New Zealand, especially after their boxing commission arranged to licence me.
“But something horrible happened on my way there when I had a miscarriage.”
Despite her situation, she managed to go the full distance with Smith losing a points decision.
On her return home, BSA hauled her into a disciplinary hearing amid a racism storm, with the body accused of ill-treating her because she was white.
BSA official Loyiso Mtya said the regulatory body tried to reason with Almeida and ordered her to issue a public apology for defiantly fighting in New Zealand.
“It was then that we issued her a SA licence, but we were lambasted by the public amid accusations of discriminating against her due to the colour of her skin,” he said.
The drama dealt Almeida a psychological blow, which she says led to depression.
But she could not shake off the boxing bug as she picked up the pieces and relocated to Johannesburg to join veteran trainer Manny Fernandez.
They soldiered on, leading to her winning the SA welterweight and junior-welterweight titles before another freak accident struck.
She challenged Zambian boxer Esther Phiri, considered the best African women boxer, for the WIBA and WBF welterweight titles in Lusaka in 2015.
After the official weigh-in, Almeida bumped into a wall on her way to the hotel room, suffering a nasty cut on her right eyebrow.
“I stitched it up and hid it, but I was already concussed going to the ring.
“Phiri hit me with a right hand, opening it up and drawing blood.”
The ringside doctor stopped the bout, sparking confusion as to the outcome, with authorities ruling a technical draw.
Phiri, who believed she should have been handed a technical knockout victory, protested and briefly retired from boxing.
Almeida fought one more time, beating Nomandithini Ndyambo to win the SA junior-welterweight title in 2017 before retiring.
Despite being at an advanced age, she still feels she could make her mark in the game with the scheduled brain scan on Friday next week either giving her the green light or finally marking the end of her roller-coaster career.
Daily Dispatch
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