The road to redemption for Roarke Knapp begins at Emperors Palace on December 6.
The popular junior-middleweight will head the “Rivalry Reloaded” bill against tough Adones Cabalquinto of the Philippines.
Elevating the Golden Gloves bill further will be the presence of special guest Lennox Lewis, the former world heavyweight champion.
It will be Knapp’s first bout since his agonising loss at the same venue back in June, and expectations are that he will have made the necessary adjustments to challenge the division’s top fighters. Anything less could be hugely damaging for the popular fighter who loves nothing more than a wild scrap.
Cabalquinto, a southpaw, is more experienced than Knapp and is rated among the best junior-middleweights in Asia. With 16 knockouts in 26 wins, he knows exactly what to do with his hands.
Yet the fight that is most likely to stimulate local interest is the WBC International minimumweight battle between SA champion Siya Kuse, a dynamo with his fists, and slick Beaven Sibanda, the SA-based “Flame of Zimbabwe” who is easy on the eye and deadly in the ring.
The two met up at Emperors Palace last Friday and although the mood was light, expect the tension to be cranked up in the weeks to come.
Kuse is rated fifth by the WBC with Sibanda 15th, giving the bout added spice, and experts are divided on the winner save to say that a mini-classic could be brewing.
The third title on the line on the night pits Keanu Koopman, younger brother of Shervantaigh, against Bonke Duku for the vacant SA welterweight championship.
Duku, with 18 fights, is more experienced, but Koopman looks ready to take the step up after a busy start to his pro career in 2022.
The WBA’s Pan-African bantamweight belt will also be contested on December 6 when hot prospect Charlton Malajika tangles with unbeaten Sabelo Cebekhulu
The remainder of the bill features a fascinating blend of up-and-coming talent, including Lennox Lewis protégé Kestna Davis, the unbeaten Jamaican who will be flying in from his New Jersey base to box in a junior-middleweight bout.
Morgan Hunter, who showed up well last Saturday night, will make a welcome return to Emperors against unbeaten Dylan Prosser (light heavyweight), while Tyla Promnick, younger sister of rookie pro Dean, will make her long awaited professional debut.
“We’re fortunate to have some of the best talent at our disposal, so this bill is stacked with top talent and unbelievable fights,” said Berman. “We all know the excitement Roarke generates and I’m already sensing a buzz for Sibanda against Kuse, which is in the tradition of top rivalries from past years.”
