HUMANS

Boxing, once one of the most exciting sports in South Africa, declined steadily in popularity over time. In recent years tough, it is on it’s way to a revival.

Because of its low cost and easy accessibility the sport is particularly popular in the townships,

Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon, used to be a boxer. Even during the 27 years he spent in prison, he would exercise every morning. According to Mandela “Boxing is egalitarian. In the ring, rank, age, colour and wealth are irrelevant...”.

South Africa was absent from international sport for most of the apartheid era due to sanctions. Nevertheless the country produced more than seventy world champions.

Friday Night Fights is a pan African boxing series organized at different venues across Africa to promote the sports.

This portrait series shows African boxers before they enter the ring in Cape Town, South Africa on 29th of September 2017.

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*After football, cricket, rugby and running, boxing is the 5th most popular sports in Africa now.

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Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa, 2017