WBC Remembers Mandela on 104th Birthday, Boxing Belt Stolen From Mandela Museum
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
On what would have been his 104th birthday, the late South African political activist and anti-apartheid fighter Nelson Mandela is being remembered by the World Boxing Council. The WBC, on its website, called Mandela a historic, courageous, and visionary leader, passionate boxing fan and exemplary human being. Nelson Mandela International Day was July 18, 2022. Mandela posted an amateur record of 53 wins, 13 losses and two draws in his youth. In Mandela’s book ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ Mandela stated he did not like the violence of boxing, as much as he appreciated the science of it.
Official Statement of the WBC
Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to the fight against apartheid, a political system developed in South Africa based on racial segregation. For that, Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years. He was elected President of South Africa by an overwhelming vote upon release, exercising his mandate with equality, wisdom and humanity. The WBC lifetime president and dear friend of Mandela, the late Jose Sulaiman, named Mandela the “King of Human Equality”. Joining the tireless struggle to achieve human equality.
The greater Mandela mystery occurred one week ago, when a boxing championship belt given to Mandela by Sugar Ray Leonard was stolen from Mandela House Museum, also known as Mandela House, in Orlando West Soweto, a theft reported by TimesLIVE. The belt, valued at only about three thousand dollars, was more of intrinsic value than materialistic value. Mandela died in December 2013, yet the Newsweek article reporting the belt theft said Leonard met in 2015, two years after Mandela actually died. South African news station ENCA broke the story on the theft, which actually occurred on July 1, 2022, and was reported to police the following day. Mandela lived in Mandela House from 1946 to 1962, and briefly again when freed in 1989. Mandela died at age 1995 in 2013.
The mystery of who would break the display locks and steal the belt from the museum may never be solved. The was more a symbolic gift from Leonard to Mandela than anything else, with no particular value or visual recognition. The belt did not represent a win or competition, only the meeting and relationship between Leonard and Mandela. Perhaps the theft was triggered by the mistaken belief the belt was actually worth money or was of some historical significance. The belt was a gesture of goodwill when it was given by Leonard to Mandela, and symbolized their friendship. Still, the loss of the belt is sad.
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