Shervantaigh Koopman is the man who would be king and on May 31 he gets his chance when he headlines “The Coronation”, a major tournament at Emperors Palace.
Koopman has long been a favourite of the Emperors faithful and gets his opportunity to ascend the throne when he challenges IBO super welterweight champion Uisma Lima for top honours.
The South African has had a near flawless career since turning professional seven years ago, but in Lima he faces a man who, like him, is dangerous and on top of his game.
Lima was born in Angola but now makes his home in Portugal where he has carved out a 13-1 resumé that includes wins against three undefeated fighters, the last of them 19-0 Sukhdeep Singh Bhatti.
“We’ve done our due diligence, and this guy is the real deal,” said promoter Rodney Berman. “You can’t choose who you chase for a title, so Shervantaigh will have to be at his best. But he’s passed every test so far, so I was happy to sign the fight.”
Koopman may be the quiet man of the division, but if he passes this test, he will lay more claim to reckoning as one of the division’s elite fighters. Bigger fights thus await.
In his last performance he showed great heart by getting off the deck to knock out former world title challenger Brandon Cook. It was an inspired performance that demonstrated both Koopman’s skill and grit.
As reward for his composed performance against Beaven Sibanda last year, Siya Kuse will defend his WBC Silver minimumweight belt on the undercard against former world title challenger Samuel Salva of the Philippines.
Kuse was never better than he looked last time out, full of feints, sharp moves and a high workrate, qualities he will have to deliver against Salva, particularly as the visitor has a reputation as a banger.
The plan is ultimately for him to challenge for the WBC belt outright, a move Berman believes is inevitable provided he keeps winning.
Having recently moved to Johannesburg where he is now under the care of Brian Mitchell, the intention is for Kuse to sharpen his game and claim a world championship title before long.
In keeping with the theme of a boxing extravaganza, the final of the “Rising Titans” will also take place with Bryan Thysse against Michael Head for the crown of South Africa’s top light heavyweight.
The pair were successful in their semifinal elimination bouts on Saturday, but so competitive were the fights, Berman has elevated the third-place showdown to the same May 31 card. Therefore, Tuvia Wewege and Bonginkosi Nhlapo will battle it out for a shared purse of R100 000.
Also, Cape Town sensation Saarah Karriem will make her Gauteng professional debut on the card.
