Sakkie Enslin, a former South African light heavyweight champion, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2023, at the age of 63.


Sakkie was born on March 21st, 1960, and spent his childhood in Melkbos, a seaside hamlet on South Africa's southwest coast, 30 kilometers north of Cape hamlet, where he enjoyed playing on the beach as a young child.

PHOTO | COURTESY

When Sakkie's more athletic father Jan made the decision to go back to what was still the Transvaal, Sakkie was about 13 years old. They made their home south of Johannesburg, close to Vereeniging.

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After his birth, Sakkie was given the name Izak Johannes. He quickly adjusted to his new environment and excelled in rugby at a nearby school. He started boxing as a child and soon won the Free State, Southern Transvaal, and Transvaal schools championships.


He left school three months into his senior year and started working as an apprentice fitter and turner. A year later, he received a military call-up and was transferred to Bloemfontein's infantry school.



He had 52 amateur fights during his two years of military duty and never lost. He ultimately competed in roughly 250 matches and won the SA middleweight championship in 1978. He played for South Africa against an American side in the same year, becoming a Springbok.

PHOTO | COURTESY

On March 1, 1980, Basil Meintjies defeated Enslin over the course of four rounds in his professional debut. In his subsequent five fights, he managed a draw and four victories before taking on Bruce McIntyre for the SA middleweight championship.


TRAINED BY EDDIE LUDICK


Eddie Ludick, a flyweight competitor for South Africa at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, served as his trainer.


They believed Enslin could defeat the more seasoned champion. They faced off against each other in what appeared to be a street battle for three rounds.

McIntyre used a right-handed swing to the jaw in the fourth round to knock the opponent to the ground. Enslin stood up before falling again, causing referee Stanley Christodoulou to declare him out standing.


Enslin won his last four fights before going down to Lionel Hunter on points on January 28, 1984.



He won the SA light-heavyweight title that Piet Crous had relinquished by defeating Solomon Zuma on May 15, 1985, at the Westridge Park Tennis Stadium in Durban.


In a rematch, Enslin defeated Freddy Rafferty and Zuma to retain the championship, but he ultimately lost it to Sakkie Horn in March 1986.



He only competed in three more fights, defeating Lucas Sereme in the fourth round at Pietersburg on May 9, 1987, before retiring after falling to former WBA junior heavyweight champion Crous in the sixth round.


His professional record now stands at 17-5 with two draws and seven knockouts.