Rest in Peace Joe

Former South African welterweight champion, known as “Smokin Joe” Makaringe, passed away on April 11, 2024, at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg at age 49.

Makaringe was born in Giyani, Limpopo, South Africa, on January 2, 1975, and was active from 1996 to 2007, compiling a record of 30-4-0 (KO 25/KO by 1).

He won the vacant South African welterweight title on February 20, 2000, with a tenth-round technical knockout win over Virgil Kalakoda. He made ten successful defenses of the South African title. He also defeated Tshepo Mashego, Peter Malinga, Walter Fabian Saporti, Welcome Ntshingila, Philip Kotey, Phumlani Menziwa, and Ishmael Tetteh. His four defeats were to Jan Piet Bberman (L KO 3), Christian Bladt for the IBF Inter-Coninental welterweight title (L UD 12), Alpaslan Aguzum for the WBC International welterweight title (L SD 12), and Issac Hlatshwayo ( L UD 12).