Sometimes winning isn’t enough.
Paul Kamanga found this out the hard way after his laboured triumph over Roman Belaev on Saturday.
Promoter Rodney Berman has nixed his appearance on a major tournament in Las Vegas in May, saying “Paul isn’t yet ready to go onto the world stage as a potential future world champion.”
Had Kamanga dazzled at the weekend and put on a show of force against an admittedly rugged opponent, his ticket would have been booked.
Kamanga boxed within himself, holding and spoiling and showing few of the smarts needed to overcome a difficult opponent.
“There’s a lot of work still to be done,” said Berman. “In the long run, this is doing him a favour. He’s still very young and hopefully this is a wake-up call.”
The message is thus loud and clear: he needs to go away, make adjustments and begin to dominate in teh manner Berman expetcts.
One boxer to benefit is Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni, the unbeaten IBO lightweight champion. Berman is negotiating for him to defend his title in the US on a Banner Promotions bill in July.
Ndongeni has beaten allcomers in his run to a 20-0 record and looks for all the world like a world class talent who could make good inroads in the tough American market.
