Courage Tshabalala

He was something like 70-0 with 70 KO's as an amateur and that led a lot of expectation.

 

Yeah I got fooled by his hype. I remember following Wlad closely and telling my friends he would be the next big thing but then I added you have to watch out for this courage guy down the line I heard about. Never again will I buy into the hype.

 

he was a witch doctor that hunted and killed lions with a spear.

 

83-1 (82 ko's) but mainly feasted on overmatched opponents.

Tshabalala suffered his first defeat to famed journeyman Brian "Bam Bam" Scott. Scott fought alot of big named guys; Morrison, Buster Douglas, etc.

Always the durable type, Scott didn't just go into a fight on short notice for the money, he went to win.

Tshabalala was slated to fight Keith McKnight for the WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, but backed out the day before the fight. McKnight fought Jimmy Garrett (3-20, 2 ko's) instead.

Tshabalala was the type to only fight when the deck was stacked in his favor, then once he started losing, his team put him in with anyone to make money...!!!

 

His brother looked like he might for real though. But at 29 he became a victim of Johannesburg's terrible murder rate.

As a 175lber Ginger held wins over former British champ Tony Wilson, and perennial fringe contender David Vedder. His only defeat was a split decision in a catchweight contest against Frans Botha.

 

I remember reading about that. Sad story.

 

Brother or cousin...??? Ive read it stated Ginger was the cousin, and Ginger was the brother...!!!

As for the Botha fight, imagine Ginger getting the nod, then going on to the USofA and get big fights like Botha did...!!!

 

Botha was a bad ass before he got fat and content. He could have gone farther.

 

When I was working with Keith McKnight, we were slated to be on the undercard of a Phil Jackson vs Frans Botha card...!!!

For some dumb reason, Botha turned the fight down, and McKnight ended up fighting Jackson...!!!

 

Had a quick look round, and the only reference I could find was indeed cousin.

http://www.convictedartistmagazine.com/boxing-news/1185-courage-tshabalala-interview.html

I guess I have always been under the mistaken impression they were brothers.

 

Courage was just a hype job, with very little substance, as long as he was matched up against taxi drivers, bums and tomato cans, he did alright..

HBO should have been ashamed of themselves for over-hyping this fraud..

 

What's unusual about a guy getting a bunch of KOs and getting hype, BlackJack Billy Fox, Jose Barrett, Herbie Hide, Ali Raymi, Dwaine Bobbick, Engles Pedroza, Lamar Clark, Tyrone Brunson, Prince Naseem Hamed, Violent Ray, Gerry ****ey, John Mugabi... The list goes on and on for 100 years, sometimes they pan out, sometimes they don't.

 

He never had the heart of a fighter or wanted to be a fighter, one of those guys who "I give this a try"....the moment the calm sea had a one foot swell he folded.

 

The fancy should be ashamed if they fell for the hype. Heavyweight boxing is full of the next 'great hope'; Tshabalala had a good narrative and look, so that was a start.

But it was obvious, pretty early, the substance of a top fighter was not there. Even the casual fan could see that, so when the hype continued, the shame was on the fan who believed it.