Golden Gloves delivered another memorable evening of championship boxing at Magic at the Palace, reinforcing its commitment to building both established champions and the next generation of African boxing talent.
The evening belonged to South Africa’s Jose Kadima, who captured the WBC Africa Heavyweight Championship in spectacular fashion with a devastating first-round knockout of Uganda’s Herbert Matovu. The explosive victory, secured in just 36 seconds, crowned Kadima as the new continental heavyweight champion and marked another milestone in his unbeaten professional career.
Kadima’s commanding performance highlighted Golden Gloves’ continued investment in developing African athletes capable of competing on the international stage. With the prestigious WBC Africa title now around his waist, the heavyweight contender is well positioned to climb the global rankings and pursue even bigger opportunities.
Beyond the championship bout, the event also showcased the exciting future of South African boxing. One of the standout performances came from 18-year-old heavyweight prospect Ethan Peters, who maintained his unbeaten professional record with an emphatic second-round knockout victory over Andre Bruwer. Improving to 3-0 with three knockouts, Peters continues to demonstrate the power, composure and maturity that have made him one of the country’s most promising young heavyweights.
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His performance reflects Golden Gloves’ long-standing commitment to identifying, developing and promoting young talent, ensuring that South Africa’s boxing pipeline remains strong for years to come. The remainder of the fight card delivered an evening filled with action, including experienced heavyweight Jack Mulowayi’s impressive stoppage victory over Juan “JJ” Alberts, a breakthrough win for featherweight Prichard Dube, another dominant display from undefeated Monica Mkandla, and a strong opening performance by Andre Malumba, further highlighting the quality and depth of talent competing under the Golden Gloves banner.
Speaking after another successful event, Golden Gloves CEO Nivi Grogor said: “Magic at the Palace was about more than crowning champions—it was about showcasing the future of African boxing. Watching Jose Kadima become the new WBC Africa Heavyweight Champion and seeing young athletes like Ethan Peters continue their rise is exactly why we do what we do. We remain committed to creating opportunities for our fighters, investing in their wellbeing and providing a platform where African talent can thrive on the biggest stages.”
Golden Gloves also used fight week to announce new initiatives focused on financial literacy, financial wellness and mental health support for professional fighters and their families, underscoring the organisation’s vision of developing not only champions inside the ring, but well-rounded athletes prepared for life beyond boxing. With another successful championship event complete, Golden Gloves continues to raise the standard for professional boxing in Africa—creating pathways for champions, inspiring the next generation and positioning South African boxing for continued success on the global stage.
