Tyla Promnick has heard all the clichés.
“Oh, you think you can take me?” some ask when they learn she’s an aspiring professional fighter. Others, predictably, say, “You don’t look like a boxer.”
But come December 6, the sceptics will be silenced. That’s when the 19-year-old makes her pro debut on the “Rivalry Reloaded” card at Emperors Palace. She won’t just be another newcomer; she and her older brother Dean, an unbeaten middleweight, will make history as the first South African brother-sister duo to hold professional licenses.
With a handful of amateur bouts under her belt, including white-collar fights, Tyla faced challenges due to the limited number of women in the mini-flyweight category. This led her to pursue a career in the paid ranks.
Regulars at Emperors Palace might recognise her as her brother’s biggest and loudest supporter. “I feel like I want to climb into the ring when I watch him,” she says of Dean, who boasts a record of 4-0. “He’s one of my biggest supporters, and I want to be one of his. I know how talented he is, and it’s thrilling to watch him fight.”
Though she may appear small and delicate, those who train at Alan Toweel’s gym know better. Tyla often spars with larger, heavier men, proving she’s no shrinking violet. “Boxing is the only thing that truly takes my mind off my struggles,” she explains. “I feel in control of my body and powerful. It calms me, and I know I can take care of myself.”
Her grace and soft features mask a fierce determination, shaped by growing up with two biological brothers and a stepbrother. The rough-and-tumble environment taught her resilience.
Tyla is well aware of the risks involved in boxing and prides herself on her defensive skills, adhering to the principle that the goal is to hit without getting hit. “I know there are dangers for both me and my opponents, but I won’t be an easy target.”
She lists her favorite female boxers – Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor, Laila Ali, Skye Nicholson, and Tiara Brown – admiring their skills and winning habits, which she aspires to emulate. Her favorite male fighters are legends like Manny Pacquiao and Sugar Ray Robinson, the latter often regarded as the greatest of all time.
In Toweel, she finds not just a trainer but a father figure. “He’s like a father to me,” Tyla says. “I can’t express how much he’s taught me about heart and integrity – qualities that matter more than any punch. He teaches me about life, not just sport.”
Tyla frequently spars with male fighters who mentor her, and she occasionally travels to the Smith gym for sessions with other women. In a landscape where female boxers are few, they form a supportive sisterhood, grateful for each other’s presence.
As her debut approaches, Tyla aims for more than just a victory. “The biggest thing is to prove to myself that I can do this,” she asserts. “I have a passion for boxing and the determination to succeed. Ultimately, what matters most is delivering when it counts.”
