Shervantaigh Koopman was once the quiet man of the junior middleweight division.
Until Saturday night when he exploded into the public consciousness with a sensational performance against heroic Brandon Cook of Canada to annex the WBA Intercontinental crown at Emperors Palace.
Koopman was by turns calm, methodical, chilling and calculating as he chopped down the brave, bloodied Cook whose warrior spirit was immense.
The visitor had spoken all week of his intention to come and fight, not merely be a meek, unwilling opponent, and he delivered in spades as he took the action to SA’s unbeaten star.
Ultimately, the combination of a gory cut on his forehead and Koopman’s slashing power shots, hobbled Cook’s ambitions and referee Jean Robert Lane mercifully called it off at 2:59 of the fifth round.
It was easily the finest, most important win of Koopman’s career and offered a potent reminder of his silky – and often savage – skills. Different opponents bring out different levels in Koopman and here he exhibited a vicious streak seldom seen before. There were moments when he was obviously revelling in exerting pain and pressure, his fast hands finding their mark with deadly accuracy.
Cut in the second round, Cook’s face was a mask of blood, but on he marched, relentless and without regard for the shots coming his way. The gutsy Canadian had his moments, but he was unable to capitalise on an extraordinary first round when he twice had Koopman on the deck.
The unbeaten fighter was shocked by Cook’s fast, furious start and looked in trouble as he struggled to come to terms with Cook’s aggression. Just as he appeared to be in real trouble, he clipped Cook on the counter and it was the older opponent who was dispatched to the canvas.
By the third round the tide had turned and Koopman was into a familiar rhythm, his long, sharp jab doing its job. He frequently hurt Cook with shots to the body, but the veteran simply kept coming, even after another trip to the canvas. He’d often be stopped in his tracks by Koopman’s quick combinations, but still he pressed the action.
By the fifth it had become a procession for Koopman and Cook’s corner ought to have thrown the towel in such was the torrid time their man was enduring. He was badly rocked and wilted yet again under the onslaught for another eight-count that signalled the beginning of the end. With blood pouring down his face and the gutsy, gritty Cook barely hanging on, Lane did his job: he stepped in and waved off the action, a merciful, sensible option that both honoured Cook and indicated the gulf in class that saw Koopman reaffirm his status as the division’s coming man.
As the capacity Emperors Palace crowd roared its approval, Koopman bathed in the adulation. SA boxing has a new star, and he’s happy to wear that mantle.
THYSSE TRIUMPHS TO CAPTURE SA HONOURS
Brandon Thysse has always been an enigmatic champion.
He has sumptuous skills, but has often left fans wanting more.
Thankfully, on Saturday he put together a complete performance that blended movement, skill and power to such an extent that he made his opponent, Junior Makondo, quit in the eighth round in their fight for the SA junior middleweight championship.
The towel came wafting in; Makondo had clearly had enough.
It was a formidable showing by Thysse, who again reminded supporters of his fan friendly style, not to speak of rivals who might have believed he was a hype job.
Thysse has brutal instincts and the way he traded with Makondo, who frequently stood toe to toe, demonstrated his relish for a good scrap. His body punching was hard and violent and in Makondo, initially at least, he had a willing opponent.
The man from Limpopo was strong and willing, and he was happy to mix it. By the third the pair were engaged in a wild battle that subsided only when Makondo suffered a slip, and a messy eight-count, that only briefly slowed the action.
The momentum shifted discernibly from the fourth round as Thysse ripped shots to the body and found a home for many of his slashing uppercuts. Makondo, however, was game and countered often, although with little apparent effect.
As Thysse continued to press the action, Makondo suddenly turned his back a minute into the eighth round. It was a timid and unexpected response that betrayed his earlier courage under fire, and it also illustrated the class of Thysse who always wanted to honour his late father Andre’s legacy.
He has done so, emphatically, and now has the belt to prove it.
NKOSI BLASTS HIS WAY TO FIRST ROUND WIN
Trainer Damian Durandt has long told anyone who will listen that Ntethelelo Nkosi is a ferocious puncher destined to be a world champion.
His modest record (6-2) suggests little, but then word from the gym was that Nkosi had been hurting sparring partners. Even rival trainer Ryno Liebenberg marvelled at how hard he punched.
On Saturday, on the undercard, Nkosi demonstrated just why all that may be true as he blew challenger Sanele Msimang away in the first round for the SA junior welterweight championship.
Nkosi set his stall out early, his shots over the top finding their mark hard and often. The southpaw challenger had little answer as he opted for the back foot.
As Nkosi waled away, Durandt’s claims were brought into sharp focus
A series of punches instigated by a left hook and completed by a bruising right, simultaneously put Msimang to sleep and put the local division on warning.
UNDERCARD WRAP
Heavyweight prospect Juan Alberts made heavy work of beating the much lighter Pieter Breytenbach over four rounds.
He wasn’t able to figure out a way to solve the puzzle of movement and counter-punching and although he won easily enough, he’ll know he’s still a work in progress.
Breytenbach, some 40kg lighter, landed several decent right hands, but the sheer bulk of Alberts nullified his efforts. He was gritty and in good shape, but it was effectively a cruiserweight given the job of dismantling a giant.
Scores were 39-37 (twice) and 40-36.
Earlier, light heavyweights Tuvia Wewege and Bonginkosi Nhlapo produced an entertaining six-rounder that had little separating them bar a flash knockdown in favour of Nhlapo in the second. The southpaw Nhlapo duly won a split decision.
In the show opener, Dean Promnick and Morgan Hunter set the scene with a feisty back and forth encounter where Promnick’s range and control were good enough to eke out a split decision win to take him to 4-0.
