The Golden Gloves slate has seldom looked better.
Starting this weekend, there is a run of boxing that continues month after month featuring a mix of champions, prospects and established professionals that will keep SA boxing in the public eye.
On Saturday, Azinga Fuzile will challenge dangerous Sultan Zaurbek for the WBA Continental super featherweight championship in Kazakhstan. Co-managed by Mla Tengimfene and Rodney Berman, Fuzile will be propelled to a world title shot should he prevail.
Two weeks later, on April 18, it’s the turn of exciting junior middleweight Roarke Knapp, who will be in Paris for his big showdown against Bakary Samake for the WBC Silver belt.
It’s a huge step for the South African who craves these fights and is determined to mix with the division’s big guns.
Also in April, several Golden Gloves fighters will appear at Fight Island 2 in Cape Town with Dean Promnick, Beaven Sibanda, Saarah Karriem and Juan Alberts all down for action.
And then in May junior middleweight dangerman Shervantaigh Koopman faces his date with destiny when he headlines a major bill at Emperors Palace. On May 31 he boxes Uisma Lima for the IBO belt, just another step on his march to greater stardom.
The event includes Siya Kuse (against the Philippines’ Samuel Salva) and heavyweight banger Alberts. For Kuse, the stakes couldn’t be higher, particularly as WBC champion Melvin Jerusalem has him on his radar. Already, moves are afoot to make this top fight.
The action will heat up mid-winter with the Rising Titans final (and third-fourth place bout) on July 3. Charlton Malajika, who recently lit up the casino venue with a top performance, will fight for the IBO youth title while Alberts will maintain his busy pace with a spot on the card.
Following the success of the last development show, Golden Gloves is eyeing the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace for another in the “Next Level” series, provisionally scheduled for mid-July.
Yet another tournament, on August 9, is shaping up nicely with Ricardo Malajika set to make a defence of his IBO super flyweight championship. Depending on their upcoming bouts, either Knapp or Koopman will have homecomings on the card, while Alberts will please his growing legion of fans with another outing at the Palace of Dreams.
“We’re fortunate to have so much accomplished talent to work with,” said promoter Rodney Berman in sketching his plans for the next six months. “It’s a big year for many of the boxers, but I’m hopeful that come year-end we will look even stronger. There are opportunities galore.”
