The Bok who loved boxing

Abri Schutte was 11 years old when he became involved in boxing. He served the sport until he died.

Christened Abraham Johannes, Schutte was always known to his friends, family members, fans and sportswriters as Abri.

Some time during 1948 he heard that a local amateur club was looking for an opponent for one of their fighters. Abri volunteered to take him on and remained involved in boxing for the rest of his life.

He represented South Africa at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and became a coach, a referee and a judge, remaining in the sport he loved until his death on July 5, 2003.

Born in Springs on February 11, 1937, Schutte spent his early years in Port Elizabeth. Trained as an amateur by Len Openshaw, he won junior and senior Eastern Province titles.

He joined the SA Police in 1959 and, as a warrant officer, became a sports organiser in Soweto. He also spent 14 years as a physical training instructor at the police college in Pretoria.

Schutte gained Springbok colours when he represented South Africa against a touring Irish team in 1959. Soon afterwards he was selected as a junior middleweight for the 1960 Olympics.

One of the 23 boxers competing for medals in the division, Schutte had a bye in the first round. In the second series, however, he was outpointed by John Bukowski of Australia.

He made a slow start against an average opponent but had the Australian champion down for a count in the third round. It was not enough to take the decision, however.

At that stage, Schutte had represented his country twice but had not won a national title. But after his return from the Games he won the junior middleweight division at the SA championships in Bloemfontein in 1960.

He never fought as a professional but became a professional referee and judge in 1978 and officiated in numerous SA title fights. He was also a keen golfer and played off a ten handicap.