Does he stick or does he twist?
This is the challenge facing Rodney Berman, who is seriously considering whether to throw heavyweight sensation Juan Alberts in with a 38-fight veteran.
He has already been on the phone with Senad Gashi, the German southpaw, about travelling to South Africa early in the new year.
Before then, Alberts has a date with Michael Pirotton (10-1) at Emperors Palace on November 29, who must be dispatched before the South African can focus on Gashi, or anyone else.
Explaining his rationale, Berman said that Alberts’ progress has been so astounding, he is already having to look at the heavyweight division’s gatekeepers.
In 15 months Alberts has gone unbeaten in seven bouts, looking better each time he has boxed.
“I don’t think Gashi will be able to live with him,” said the promoter, who worked with the German when he went 12 rounds with Kevin Lerena in 2023.
Gashi has been in excellent form. He’s won seven straight fights since the Lerena defeat, most recently upsetting Tom Schwarz.
Alberts himself doesn’t care who he fights – he implicitly trusts trainer Ryno Liebenberg to make the call – and is willing to box whoever is placed in front of him.
Berman reckons he’s the best South African heavyweight prospect of the last 20 years and thus far he’s hardly put a foot wrong. Alberts’ conditioning has been excellent and his fight IQ and size make him a fearsome prospect for anyone brave enough to enter his orbit.
