Former Springbok front-rowers James “Bullet” Dalton and Ollie le Roux stepped back into the spotlight – this time in the boxing ring – as they squared off in a charity boxing match on Thursday night in Bloemfontein.
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The bout, which took place during President Steyn High School’s Boere October Festival Week, provided fireworks as the two retired rugby heavyweights put their long-standing friendship and competitive fire to the test – all in aid of a good cause.
Proceeds from the event went towards supporting the school.
Verbal jabs
Dalton, who made his mark with the Lions and the Springboks, didn’t miss the chance to fire a few verbal jabs at his former team-mate and tour room-mate ahead of the fight.
“I hope Ollie doesn’t hide in the long grass like a cheetah while the lions are out hunting,” Dalton quipped.
“I know a cheetah can run fast, but I bet you didn’t know how a lion could run. I’m looking forward to the challenge in Bloem.”
Le Roux, the beloved former Cheetahs prop known as much for his scrummaging power as his personality, took the fight seriously, undergoing an intense 12-week training camp.
“I started by training once a week, but now I train four times a week,” said Le Roux.
“I initially did three sets of 10 sit-ups, but now I do three sets of 100. It’s nice to be training again, and I have a fair challenge ahead of me. James is a formidable opponent.”
Entertain fans
While the event was all in good fun, Le Roux made it clear that the gloves would come off in the ring – metaphorically, at least.
“It’s really just a game of chess – a guy has to have patterns,” he said.
“We have a plan to beat James and how to get me out of trouble if I find myself in that situation. We’ll go in and beat each other up.”
Despite their age and retired status, both fighters were eager to entertain fans and rekindle the old Springbok spirit.
“It’s not about winning, it’s about the entertainment,” Le Roux added.
“We’re old legends, but we’re not forgotten. It’s going to be fun to fight each other and live out our Springbok values.”
Dalton reportedly requested six rounds for the bout – a decision Le Roux found ambitious.
“I think he’s crazy,” he laughed, “but hopefully one of us can make things happen in that time.”
While we’re unclear as to who ‘won’ the bout, Dalton did appear to be on the receiving end of a number of heavy blows landed by his far bigger opponent.
SPRINGBOKS CAREERS
Ollie le Roux
| Full name: André-Henri le Roux |
| Date of birth: 10 May 1973 |
| Place of birth: Fort Beaufort |
| School: Grey College |
| Springbok #600 |
| Physical: 1.82m, 121.6kg |
| Current age: 52 |
| Test summary: Tests: 54 Tries: 1 |
| First Test: 4 June 1994 – Tighthead prop against England at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| Last Test: 17 August 2002 – Reserve against Australia at Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
James Dalton
| Full name: James Dalton |
| Date of birth: 16 August 1972 |
| Place of birth: Johannesburg |
| School: Jeppe |
| Springbok #614 |
| Physical: 1.77m, 95.2kg |
| Current age: 53 |
| Test summary: Tests: 43 Tries: 5 |
| First Test: 8 October 1994 – Reserve against Argentina at Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth |
| Last Test: 23 November 2002 – Hooker against England at Twickenham, London |
