“Crackerjack” shaping up for junior middleweight warfare.
South Africa is yet to have a world champion in the junior middleweight division but there have been no shortage of unforgettable characters and all action warriors.
Charlie Weir and Bushy Bester both challenged for junior middleweight world titles in the past.
Their fates were intertwined, having fought each other as young upstarts with only a few pro fights underneath their belts. Weir won that encounter in the first round, but both went on to have solid careers. Bester lost a spirited challenge to Ayub Kalule for the WBA world title in Denmark in 1980, dropping a 15-round decision, while Weir succumbed to Davey Moore in five rounds in 1982 for the same world title.
It remains to be seen whether Roarke Knapp or Brandon Thysse will go on to fight for world titles but the two have already split two epic encounters between them and become fan favorites.
Knapp, especially, seems to have some of that star quality and punching power that made the “Silver Assassin” such a big drawcard years ago. He also has the same vulnerabilities. Weir was knocked out by Tap Tap Makhathini in a big upset and Knapp came within a whisker of being stopped by Cristiano Ndombassy a few fights ago.
It is no wonder ringside tension will be sky high when Knapp squares off against Mexican power puncher, NABF champion, Dante Jordan at Emperor’s Palace on the 10th of December. Jordan, who has 25 knockouts in his 35 wins, has a history of shattering undefeated records on the road. Knapp will have to be fully dialed in to avoid disaster. This fight is shaping up to be another all-out barnburner not to be missed!
Speaking of Ndombassy, he will become Brandon Thysse’s problem in the other main bout. Against Knapp, he came in as a late substitute. This time he has a win, some ring time, and a proper training camp under his belt. Ndombassy can certainly crack but conventional wisdom says that Thysse is the superior boxer. Will Thysse put on a boxing clinic or will eagerness to prove that he can beat Ndombassy in more dominating fashion than Knapp make him take unnecessary risks?
In a cruiserweight encounter, Akani Phuzi meets Johnny Muller for the third time. Muller has won both previous bouts, but Phuzi is hungry for revenge. Will new trainer Damien Durand make a difference and enable Phuzi to finally diffuse “The Hurricane?”
Tune in to Supersport and find out!
