Thuso "Ngwazi" Ramukakati was crowned as the new champion of the indigenous Musangwe boxing tournament, which was staged at the Makhado municipal show on Saturday.

The first Musangwe tournament in the area was sponsored by Louis Trichardt Spar.

On Saturday, fighters were introduced to a new chapter of this sport, viz. fighting for money. Spar Louis Trichardt made R5 000 available for the best fighters.

In the senior category, Checkers Munyai and Lion Manzere were the first to enter the ring. Lion showed his supporters that he was not roaring for nothing when he convincingly beat Checkers, who did not hesitate to raise his hand as a way to accept defeat.

The most entertaining fight was between Prince “Shaka” Maluleke and Thuso “Ngwazi” Ramukakati, with Ngwazi declared the winner.

A manager at Louis Trichardt Spar, Mr Victor Radebe, said during the contest that sport without education was nothing. “You can be a star today and be written off the following day. Education will never forsake you, and you can bank on it,” he added.

Ngwazi went home with R1 500 cash and a trophy. The mid-weight champion, Thifhelimbilu Ndou, collected R1 000 cash and a  trophy, while Prince Maluleke won the veteran category. He received R1 000 and a trophy.

The president of Musangwe, Mr Patric Ramarada, vowed that the sport “is here to stay and no one will stop us from practising Venda culture. Bare-knuckle fighting has been part of our lives and we are not prepared to trade it for anything.”