Thirty years after the phenomenal success of Heavyweight Explosion, the series is being reprised by Rodney Berman, one of the original pioneers of the popular syndicated TV events.
Berman, in partnership with the late Cedric Kushner, was instrumental in shaking up the division in the mid-1990s using fighters like Corrie Sanders, Shannon Briggs, Hasim Rahman, Michael Moorer and David Tua who gave Heavyweight Explosion life with a series of memorable bouts.
The Golden Gloves boss now plans an African series of Heavyweight Explosion to be lead by fast-rising Juan Alberts and including Ethan Peters, who makes his heavyweight debut in December, and Jose Kadima of DRC, who is on a barnstorming run and sits at 5-0.
“The time is right to put something exciting together,” said Berman. “We’ll be looking to put it together for 2026 both because there’s a rich vein of new talent and the fans gravitate to the heavyweights.”
Alberts next fights on October 4, having already had six outings in just over a year. He has made significant progress in each and is showing promising signs under trainer Ryno Liebenberg.
Peters, the SA amateur super heavyweight champion, has been taken under the wing of Brian Mitchell, who believes he has the size and ability to make a dent in the heavyweights. Kadima, meanwhile, is being carefully matched, but looks to have the tools to add real quality to Berman’s planned series.
Whatever happens, if the local version turns out even half as good as the original, Golden Gloves will be on to a winner.
