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Former champion boxer and “one Johannesburg’s most notorious thugs”, Mark Strydom, died in a shooting on Saturday night after allegedly pulling a gun on a woman.

According to anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee, Strydom was gunned down by David Knox after the boxer reportedly “fired his weapon first” after the two men “entered into a dispute” at a sports bar.

“He started with David Knox and fired a shot at Knox who shot him first after seeing the firearm,” a source said.

“This man has been terrorising people for a long time.”

“I do not know much about his death but all I know is that this man terrorised Durban and the bars in Umhlanga when they come here they did the same,” another source said.

Mark “Striker” Strydom was shot dead last night on the East Rand.

In a 2000 report, a media said: “One of the most notorious thugs in Johannesburg’s southern suburbs says he has found God and given up his violent ways – but police and some of his victims aren’t convinced.”…

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 21, 2024

Strydom has been linked to several crimes and has been out on bail on five previous occasions, with some of his previous charges including fraud, assault, intimidation and pointing a firearm.

In 2013 he appeared alongside the confessed murderer of Brett Kebble, Mikey Schultz, in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on charges of assault after a war of words with then Mrs Universe SA Juanita Mitchell, the wife of Brian Mitchell, a former world featherweight boxing champion.

Mrs Mitchell laid charges of assault against Strydom and Schultz and obtained an interdict against them to keep them from coming near her. In her version of events, Strydom and Schultz confronted her, swore at her and spat in her face.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Noxolo Kweza said the police have opened a murder docket following the shooting.