Allan Toweel
Encyclopedia
Allan Toweel was a former Welterweight
(under 147 lbs/ 66,68 kg) boxer
from South Africa
. He became one of the finest trainer-managers in the history of SA boxing.
, Jimmy, Fraser, and Vic Toweel
; and uncle of Paul Toweel. Born in Benoni
, South Africa, he attended Benoni West Primary, Benoni Convent and Benoni High School.
and SA junior titles.
problems he turned down an offer from trainer Willie Ketchum, to go to America and unfortunately could not challenge Pat Patrick for the SA welterweight title.
Championship, beating the great Manuel Ortiz (boxer)
who was recognised as one of the greatest bantamweight champions of all time) and Willie, who scored a draw for the world bantamweight crown against Robert Cohen (boxer)
, winning the British Empire lightweight
title and achieving national titles in four weight divisions: feather, bantam, light and welterweight. Allan also trained Dennis Adams for his fight against Frankie Jones in October 1957 in Scotland, when the South African won the British Empire flyweight title in what was considered a major upset.
Some of the top fighters he trained were Mike Schutte, Kosie Smith, Pierre Fourie, Patrick Toweel, Bushy Bester, Kokkie Olivier, and Pierre Coetzer
. For a while he also trained the South African Gerrie Coetzee
(former Heavyweight
Champion in 1983).
He died at the age of 64 on November 28, 1995. Allan will always be remembered as one of South Africa's best boxing trainers.
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
(under 147 lbs/ 66,68 kg) boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He became one of the finest trainer-managers in the history of SA boxing.
Personal
His father Michael Joseph Toweel, better known as Pappa Mike was instrumental in introducing the basics of boxing to him and his brothers. Allan was the Brother of fellow boxers Willie ToweelWillie Toweel
Willie Michael Toweel is a former boxer from South Africa, who won the bronze medal in the flyweight division at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.-Personal:...
, Jimmy, Fraser, and Vic Toweel
Vic Toweel
Victor "Vic" Anthony Toweel was a South African boxer and former undisputed World bantamweight champion.Toweel was the first South African to hold a world title.-Personal:...
; and uncle of Paul Toweel. Born in Benoni
Benoni, Gauteng
Benoni is a city with 654,509 inhabitants on the East Rand in the South African province of Gauteng. Since 2000, it has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.- History :...
, South Africa, he attended Benoni West Primary, Benoni Convent and Benoni High School.
Amateur career
As an amateur he won 126 out of 134 bouts. In 1946, he won East Rand, TransvaalTransvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
and SA junior titles.
Professional career
Fighting at welterweight, he won seven of eight professional bouts, with one ending in a draw. Troubled with asthmaAsthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
problems he turned down an offer from trainer Willie Ketchum, to go to America and unfortunately could not challenge Pat Patrick for the SA welterweight title.
Career as a Trainer
Under his fathers guidance, he helped to train brothers Vic (who went on to win the World BantamweightBantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
Championship, beating the great Manuel Ortiz (boxer)
Manuel Ortiz (boxer)
Manuel Ortiz was one of the very best boxers of the 1940s, and was named to Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. In 1996, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame....
who was recognised as one of the greatest bantamweight champions of all time) and Willie, who scored a draw for the world bantamweight crown against Robert Cohen (boxer)
Robert Cohen (boxer)
Robert Cohen was a French boxer. Cohen was world bantamweight champion from 1954 to 1956.-Boxing career:...
, winning the British Empire lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
title and achieving national titles in four weight divisions: feather, bantam, light and welterweight. Allan also trained Dennis Adams for his fight against Frankie Jones in October 1957 in Scotland, when the South African won the British Empire flyweight title in what was considered a major upset.
Some of the top fighters he trained were Mike Schutte, Kosie Smith, Pierre Fourie, Patrick Toweel, Bushy Bester, Kokkie Olivier, and Pierre Coetzer
Pierre Coetzer
Pierre Coetzer is a former Heavyweight boxer from Pretoria, South Africa. Coetzer’s most notable fights were probably those against Johnny DuPlooy, Riddick Bowe, Frank Bruno and George Foreman....
. For a while he also trained the South African Gerrie Coetzee
Gerrie Coetzee
Gerhardus Christian Coetzee , better known as Gerrie Coetzee, is a South African former boxer. He made history twice: he was the first boxer from the African continent ever to fight for the World Heavyweight Title, and the first to win the World Heavyweight Title...
(former Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
Champion in 1983).
He died at the age of 64 on November 28, 1995. Allan will always be remembered as one of South Africa's best boxing trainers.