Read Time:10 Minute, 6 Second

By William Van Zyl (published 3 December 2023)

In the electric atmosphere of the boxing ring, a dance unfolded, a symphony of jabs and blocks echoing through the tense silence. Bill and Mike tested each other’s mettle, a ballet of aggression and defence—the “Anvil” versus the “Assassin.”

A moment of brilliance sparked when Bill’s feint – an intelligent, deceptive movement – paved the way for a thunderous blow to Mike’s ribs. However, in a twist of fate, Mike’s follow-up hook aimed at Bill’s jaw met nothing but the air. “Stupid mistake,” Mike scolded himself, but he banished it from his mind. His coach’s words echoed, urging him to let go of the past or risk succumbing to the present. Mike was a dancer in the ring – floating on his toes like a ballroom expert.

The judges’ scorecards remained barren for three rounds, and the audience’s impatience manifested in shouting derogatory comments. To them, the bout seemed stagnant, a void of action. Yet, in Mike’s perception, Bill’s stamina was waning—he had lost a tick, a precious heartbeat, as the coach often emphasised. It was the moment to stay vigilant, eyes fixed on the prize, waiting for the chink in Bill’s armour. “Be patient, dance, dance around him – take your hits,” Mike thought, confident that Bill’s flawless facade would eventually crumble. Bill held his gloves high, protecting his anvil jaw. Bill was notoriously known for his strong jaw and his thunderous short stitch. He could knock an offender out with only 4 inches to spare. A short, sharp, straight punch could send an opponent to the canvas for the count.

The bell rang for the end of round four. Mike slumped onto his stool, the metallic taste of blood lingering in his mouth. A cut inside his cheek painted his tongue in shades of ruby red. The coach’s soothing balm words washed over him, though none registered in his consciousness.

“Dance, dance around him – tire him. He is getting weaker and slower. Stay on your toes!”

In Bill’s corner, his coach applied the ice-cold Enswell Eye Iron over his left eye. Bill could hardly see out of his swollen eye. His experienced coach ironed over the small cut just under his eyebrow several times and then applied Vaseline over the eye. It did not look promising. “With that cut and swelling, would Bill last the fight?” his coach thought.

“Keep your gloves up. Hold it high. Protect your left eye!”

As the fifth-round bell resonated, the ring held its breath. Still, a decisive move had yet to be made. Bill’s corner knew their man was tiring, so they had to hatch a plan—and very quickly. Mike was set to take Bill out. Bill’s coach feverishly waved the white towel to cool him down. Bill was at the end of his tether, and Mike was beginning to dominate.

The next round started with Mike firing straight jabs at Bill’s damaged eye. The unexpected happened; pretty boy Mike finally faltered into the sixth round, a minute ticking away. It was a mistake, his first of the night. Bill’s instincts sharpened. The time had come to seize the opportunity—to capitalise on that fleeting error. Mike allowed Bill to get close to him—it looked like a wrestling match. Their arms were intertwined and locked.

Then it happened. Miraculously, Bill found 4 inches of space. He seized the opportunity. With all his might, he hit Mike with a short, right-hand, straight punch. The muscles in his shoulder strained, his right deltoid bulged, and his latissimus dorsi exploded as he landed the punch on Mike’s jaw. Mike did not see it coming. Bill produced his secret weapon at the perfect moment – his 4-inch leather stitcher.

Like the powerful stitching machine in his shoe repair shop, he punched a hole through the vigorous defence of Mike – The Dancing Assassin. Mike blacked out like a city without power and fell like a 200 lb sack of Transvaal maize to the ground. When his head hit the canvas, the planks under the canvas thumped and groaned. His body followed suit.

Mike—”The Vulnerable Assassin”—was now on the floor and slowly lifted his head. He could not see a thing and did not know where he was.

“……six, seven, eight, nine, ten!” The doctor jumped into the ring and ran to assist the now “Defeated Assassin.”

The crowd went berserk.

IMAGE: Captain W W (William Neville Windell), aka Bill Windell – “The Anvil” – has just knocked out his opponent, Mike Van Blerk – “The Dancing Assassin.” Mike succumbed in round six—a short, thundering blow to his jaw did the damage. Bill switched his lights off. He was stitched up—credit: Jeppe Boxing Club, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The crowd chanted, “Captain WW, Captain Bill WW !” The floodlights above the ring highlighted the cigarette smoke that had migrated over the boxing ring. Bill towered over Mike like a majestic stag on a cold winter’s morning. Steam evaporated from his hot, tired body. He pulled his tummy in and pushed his chest out. He then beat his chest with the large, sweaty and bloody leather gloves.

“I have stitched him up, I have stitched him up!” Bill mumbled under his breath. He was exhausted. Pearls of sweat appeared all over his body, and his red and white trunks were soaked in blood and sweat.

Bill’s coach could not contain himself. He was running around Bill in circles, shouting:

“You have knocked him out, you have knocked him out!” He yelled at the top of his voice. He then grabbed Bill around his waist – from behind – and lifted him as the victor.

The reporters and cameramen jumped into the ring. Flashlights blinded everyone.

“Your four-inch punch knocked him out,” said the referee as he lifted Bill Windell’s arm.

“The winner with a knockout in the sixth round, William Neville – The Anvil – Wiiinnnndddeeelll !”

Jeppe Boxing Club – in the heart of Johannesburg – roared.

The crowd continued chanting: “Captain W W! Captain Bill W W…”

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Table of Contents

16 Important things you did not know about Bill Windell:

After his boxing career – he became a light heavyweight champion ( average of 179 pounds – 81 kg) – he coached boxing and wrestling for several years.
Bill coached soccer and umpired soccer games from time to time (Turfontein Park, JHB, RSA).
He loved horse racing and attended the races from time to time. It was reported that he would return several Saturday afternoons with bags of money he won betting on his favourite horses. Generously, he would share his winnings.
Bill had an entrepreneurial spirit. He always found ways to do business and to make money. He had an eye for an opportunity. Making money made him happy – a true adventurer and go-getter.
Bill and his wife Tieka had several shoemaking and shoe repair businesses in Transvaal and the Freestate in the RSA. He was an accomplished shoemaker and leather expert.
He had a great voice and loved to sing. La Paloma was his favourite song. He also played the piano.
Bill led his family by reading scriptures in the evenings – after meals -and said prayers after reading portions of The Bible to his family after dinner.
He carried a small tin of snuff in his pocket. He would play with the grandchildren and secretly put some snuff in their noses while wrestling with them. He would roar with laughter as they started sneezing!
He loved to set up wrestling matches between his grandchildren and his children (Ray and William). He would hold William’s legs so Ray could win the wrestling match.
Bill called this grandson William Neville (named after him) Willem Been (“William Leg”).
In his BC days (Before Christ), he would hide small bottles of brandy in the garden and have lots of fun with his son-in-law partying together. Nobody knew where the liquor came from. They would walk through the garden, laughing their heads off. Tieka found one bottle in the garden and thought their game was over. However, they had several bottles stashed away around the garden. Very clever. That was the very innovative Bill Windell.
He had dynamite in his fists. Nobody dared to challenge him for a fight. He could out-box anyone.
It was reported that Bill would go to auctions and buy furniture, beds and the like. We would have it delivered to his house and laced a small ad in the newspaper. It was for free – those in need turned up to collect. Very generous!
One Sunday night, at church, Bill encountered two needy people with no place to stay. His wife was at home that evening. After church, he turned up with the two homeless people at his house. Tieka, his wife, was not happy. They used the bathroom, and he made them some beds. They stayed for a week. Tieka eventually accepted Bill’s token of generosity.
It was also reported that one Saturday afternoon – after the horse races at the Turfontein Race Club – Bill turned up at home dressed in his jacket. He laughed and started emptying his pockets on the dining room table. Roll upon roll of notes appeared out of his pockets. He looked like a magician pulling money from every pocket in his blazer and trousers. What did he do with the money? You’ve guessed it. He gave it all to Tieka, his parents who were present, and ‘At’ (Afrikaans male name), a needy gentleman who lived with them at that stage. At suffered from PTSD – WW2 (post-traumatic stress disorder)
One of his daughters said they would occasionally work at the shoe repair shop; when needed, they would use some money from the shop to buy food for themselves. Bill never questioned them about taking money for food from his cash register. He was a very generous and giving person.

Photos of Bill Windell with captions:

PHOTO LTR: Nevillin, Charlie, Nena, Tieka and Bill. On holiday in the RSA. Credit: C & N Van Zyl.

PHOTO: Bill & Tieka Windell with their daughters. Credit: C & N Van Zyl.

PHOTO: Bill (William Neville) and Tieka Windell. Bill Windell (The Jew from Jeppe), also known as Captain WW. On the night he beat Mike Van Blerk – “The Dancing Assassin” at Jeppe Boxing Club, Johannesburg, he pushed his chest out in the same fashion. Bill –“The Anvil” – Windell at his best.

PHOTO: Bill Windell at 70 ‘Berg Weg’, Alberton, RSA. Here he sits on the veranda in front of the house where they used to live. Credit: C & N Van Zyl.

PHOTO: The back of this photo reads ‘DAD. Born: 1 December 1915, passed away: 12 September 1969. This photo was taken the Sunday before Dad Bill Windell passed away.’ Credit: Liz McLachlan (Herholdt) -Facebook.

PHOTO Jan Wilkens, the famous heavyweight-wrestling champion of South Africa. Bill Windell had a business called Republic Shoe Repairs in Virginia in the Freestate (RSA). He was the proud creator of the wrestling shoes of Jan Wilkens during his wrestling career.

PHOTO: Here is Jan Wilkens (right) with Bert Van Graan (Left). The photo was taken at ‘Mooiplasie’ between 2015 and 2017, RSA. Credit: Bert Van Graan – Facebook.

One of a kind

Bill Windell was one of a kind – and definitely not perfect; he had the power and will of prized stag. He had explosive power. However, his power was always under control; in his chest was a warm, loving, caring, and giving heart. He served God and his family the best he could. Bill Windell, we remember you, and we honour you. Rest in Peace.