Arthur Mayisela

Arthur "The Fighting Prince" Mayisela (born 20 September 1953 – 17 September 1986) was a South African professional boxer who competed in the super light (Light welterweight) and welterweight divisions from 1980 to 1986.

Early life Mayisela was born in Soweto, a township southwest of Johannesburg, on 20 September 1953. Growing up under the oppressive laws of apartheid, he turned to the sport of boxing at a young age to navigate the harsh socio-economic conditions of the township.

Professional career Mayisela made his professional boxing debut on 22 March 1980, defeating Nkululeko Nkosi in Soweto.

Called "The People's Champ" by his loyal fans, Mayisela became a cultural and sporting figure during the apartheid era and a symbol of hope and unity for South Africa’s Black majority during a time of intense political and social unrest. In September 1982, Mayisela won the Transvaal Light Welterweight title by defeating Ernest Moledi. He went on to capture the South African Super Light Championship in February 1984 with a victory over Nkosana Mgxaji.

One of the highlights of his career occurred on 30 November 1985 at Sun City, where his opponent was the highly rated white South African prospect Brian Baronet. Baronet, who was on the verge of a world title shot, was handed a surprise defeat when Mayisela secured a high-profile victory, instantly elevating his status to a national sporting hero.

Welterweight step-up In June 1986, Mayisela stepped up to the welterweight division to challenge veteran champion Harold Volbrecht for the South African Welterweight Title, and the bout at Sun City ended in a draw when the two boxers accidentally bumped heads during the match, with Volbrecht suffering a cut on his forehead. His final professional fight took place on 6 September 1986, where he secured a victory against Antonio Guerra at the Crown Mines Showgrounds in Johannesburg.

Death and legacy Mayisela died on 17 September 1986, three days before his 33rd birthday, when he was killed in a tragic traffic accident. Mayisela is remembered for leveraging his platform to foster hope. During the heightened state of emergency and political violence in South Africa in the mid-1980s, his fights served as rare, cross-cultural gatherings where Black and white fans could temporarily transcend apartheid divisions to appreciate world-class athletics. Posthumous honors In November 2021, the South African Presidency honored Mayisela's legacy by posthumously awarding him the Order of Ikhamanga (Silver). The national order recognized his exceptional skill, his contribution to South African boxing, and his status as "The Fighting Prince" who brought joy to the masses during a bleak period in the nation's history. Professional boxing record Res. Record Opponent Type Date Location Notes Win 20–4–2 Antonio Guerra PTS 6 Sep 1986 Johannesburg, Gauteng Draw 19–4–2 Harold Volbrecht PTS 14 Jun 1986 Sun City, North West For South African Welterweight Title Win 19–4–1 Pedro Avila PTS 15 Mar 1986 Sun City, North West Loss 18–4–1 Brett Taylor PTS 8 Feb 1986 Johannesburg, Gauteng For South African Super Light Title Win 18–3–1 Brian Baronet PTS 30 Nov 1985 Sun City, North West For South African Super Light Title Win 17–3–1 Julius Mnwana PTS 23 Mar 1985 Springs, Gauteng For South African Super Light Title Win 16–3–1 Stephen Balene PTS 16 Feb 1985 Boksburg, Gauteng Win 15–3–1 Najib Daho PTS 25 Aug 1984 Boksburg, Gauteng Win 14–3–1 Adolfo Omar Arce Rossi PTS 25 May 1984 Springs, Gauteng Win 13–3–1 Nkosana Mgxaji PTS 18 Feb 1984 East London, Eastern Cape Won South African Super Light Title