THE AFRICA I WANT – THUMBS UP TO MS. JANICE GREAVER, A MEMBER OF BOAF, ON HER APPOINTMENT TO THE INTERIM COMMITTEE OF THE GAUTENG BOXING PROMOTERS ASSOCIATION

Mr. Frederick Koomson, Director of the Banking on Africa’s Future (BOAF) congratulated Ms. Janice Greaver, a member of BOAF, on her appointment on 14 December 2022 to the Interim Committee by the National Executive Committee of the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association following the disbandment by the NEC of the Gauteng Boxing Promoters Association.

He said: “On behalf of BOAF, I wish to congratulate Ms. Greaver on this important appointment as a bridge to the AGM to be held in March 2023 to be part of the interim committee to administer the affairs of a sport in which the marginalization and exclusion of women in professional boxing is a substantial national and international problem and a negation of the constitutional promise of equal participation in all spheres of human endeavor.

Against an uncontested backdrop that male boxers compete in 10 out of 10 possible weight categories, female boxers have gained access to this previously closed realm, discrimination, exclusion and unequal treatment of female athletes and administrators remains a widespread problem in SA professional boxing.

This development should provoke, inspire and ignite interest more women to step forward and up to the plate as administrators of this important sport.”

Set out below is a conversation with Ms. Greaver as part of the initiative to promote and celebrate the building of an inclusive Africa that speaks to the Africa I Want as a member of BOAF but also as an African who believes that any ripple that shakes the status quo should be noted, profiled, showcased and celebrated.”

[12/18, 5:50 AM] BOAF00012: Good morning Ms. Greaver. Can you briefly explain your association with the Interim Committee as reported in an article published by the Sowetan under the title: “Boxing association hits back at claims of sabotage over botched Mayweather trip?”

[12/18, 6:09 AM] Janice Greaver: Good morning Caroline. I have been appointed as Treasurer of the interim committee.

[12/18, 6:11 AM] BOAF00012: Who appointed you?

[12/18, 6:14 AM] Janice Greaver: I was appointed by the NEC of the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association

[12/18, 6:14 AM] BOAF00012: When was the appointment and what informed the appointment?

[12/18, 6:21 AM] Janice Greaver: The appointment was made on 14 December 2022, following the disbandment by the NEC of the Gauteng Boxing Promoters Association – a structure not recognized in terms of the South African Boxing Act, 2001.

[12/18, 6:22 AM] BOAF00012: Thanks. What is your personal and professional relationship with the sport of boxing and also is this your first relationship with the administration of the sport?

[12/18, 7:16 AM] Janice Greaver: My personal relationship with Boxing began years ago when I stepped into a Boxing gym for the first time, determined to get into the best shape of my life.

Stepping into that Boxing gym changed my life – I was introduced to a version of myself that had been dormant my whole life, a version of myself that woke up at 4am every day to be in the gym, a version of myself that was disciplined beyond what I had ever been before, and a version of myself that lived and breathed Boxing. 

Given that I’m a professional in the corporate world, I had no desire to become a boxer myself, but knew I had to get involved in the sport somehow.

I had been involved with Boxing only for fitness, but I gradually got introduced to professional Boxing, where I saw a world of opportunity to get involved in promoting the sport.

I then got licensed as a Boxing Promoter with Boxing South Africa (BSA) and my relationship with boxing graduated from being a purely personal one to a professional one, where my interest now revolves around how

I can best utilize my skills to serve and advance the sport. This appointment as Treasurer of Gauteng’s interim structure, which to answer your question is indeed my first administrative role in Boxing, is therefore a very important one because it places me in a position to utilize my most relevant skills to advance the sport of Boxing.

With my background in Investment Banking, my two relevant degrees (finance and law) and my experience as a management consultant, I am very well positioned to add value to the sport and I look forward to doing so.

About BOAF: