The Simon Van Der Stel Primary School Hall was a fitting location for the very first Rising Stars event. It served as a place of learning, courage, and wisdom for the future of African combat sports. On Saturday, in Wynberg, more than 40 athletes from across the Western Cape, some from as far as Barrydale and Hermanus, descended upon this schooling institution to participate in a groundbreaking event that will benefit the kickboxing and boxing communities in the southern suburbs of Cape Town.
Rising Stars Fight Promotion, which is a collaboration between Fighterz Inc. MMA and Wellness Academy, Vibrant Sport, and Punchline Media, was created to offer more opportunities to aspiring fighters in and around the Southern Suburbs of the Mother City as more than half of the events in the region currently require athletes to travel either to the City center or beyond, making it inaccessible or awkward for some to attend. This past weekend’s debut show provided grassroots and amateur kickboxers and boxers a platform to hone their skills, improve where needed, build their fight careers, and do what is most important, enjoy the sport they love.
The main event of the night was a ladies' boxing title fight between defending Vibrant Sport champion Asanele Mnxali (African Youth boxing) and Fighterz Inc.’s Aayesha Majiet. After a hard-fought three-round war, it was Mnxali who successfully defended her throne in the 56kg division via unanimous decision.
Mnxali showed more composure, great .