These are heady times for Golden Gloves, which is approaching year-end with renewed optimism.
There’s an outstanding development show on Sunday, followed by an explosive double-header at Emperors Palace on December 8 – “Repeat or Revenge”.
Typically, promoter Rodney Berman is already looking ahead to the new year with renewed optimism. The stocks look good and major opportunities await several of his stable.
Here, then, from the horse’s mouth – Berman himself – on what awaits several of SA’s top fighters in 2019:
KEVIN LERENA
“Coming off a long layoff and successful surgery, he will make the next defence of this title on March 16 at Emperors Palace. Being the current IBO Champion and with a number seven ranking in the WBC, mega-paydays loom for Kevin.”
KEATON GOMES
“To date, Keaton has done everything expected of him and we are all very excited at the prospect of having another formidable cruiserweight who will eventually grow into the heavyweight division, and South Africa looks set to have another Corrie Sanders on the horizon in Keaton. He will be brought along at Peter Smith’s and Golden Gloves’ pace to ensure that he reaches the very top.”
TOMMY OOSTHUIZEN and THABISO MCHUNU
“Notwithstanding his recent shady lifestyle, having climbed out from the bottom of the barrel, Oosthuizen’s transformation is commendable. His rematch with Mchunu is eagerly awaited – both are excellent fighters – and irrespective of the result, both will carry on campaigning in the international cruiserweight division.”
RYNO LIEBENBERG
“From the ‘Rocky’ of South African boxing, with a Silver belt looming, and having at last found his true weight, the sky can still be the limit for Ryno.”
THULANI MBENGE
“The reigning IBO champion and now top 10 in the WBC. We have very high expectations in a very competitive division. A co-promotional agreement has been concluded with DiBella Entertainment and Mbenge, who must first come through a formidable test in December, will debut in the USA in February or March 2019.”
BOYD ALLEN and WADE GROTH
“They are two former MMA fighters, and both are extremely popular. High on the agenda is a match-off between the two, which would be of incredible interest: two former MMA exponents meeting in the boxing ring. Should this fight materialise, there will be no loser, as both will go their own separate paths thereafter.”
ROWAN CAMPBELL
“He’s the reigning SA super-middleweight champion, whose achievement is mind-boggling given that he never had an amateur fight. Again, he will be brought along at his trainer’s pace.”
RICARDO MALAJIKA
“Although only making his professional debut this weekend, he is apparently an exceptional talent and already earmarked as one of the Golden Gloves stars of the future.”
JABULANI MAKHENSE
“Jabulani is proving to be a very exciting and exceptional junior-welterweight in the capable hands of Sebastiaan Rothmann. He’s another fighter who will feature prominently in Golden Gloves’ plans.”
