Rodney Berman likens him to a young Charlie Weir or Johnny du Plooy – there are hints of Gary Ballard too – but whatever Dylan Prosser may be, he’s very much an original.
For all the comparisons, the Capetonian has his own style and sass. He’s a puncher with a layer of charisma that will do him well in the professional ranks.
Thus far, he’s done it all right. He’s won five on the bounce since his debut in 2023, winning four inside the distance, to put South Africa’s middleweights and super middleweights on warning.
He returns to Emperors Palace for the first time since last April when he fights dangerous Morgan Hunter on the Golden Gloves development show on March 2. It is the perfect showcase for the prospect, who nominally heads the bill and will be grouped with several exciting aspirants all eager to catch the eye.
Berman liked him the first time he saw him fight, against Fhulufhelo Ramaliba, and has already put his neck out.
“Of all the young fighters around, he’s one of a handful with indefinable charisma. He’s especially popular in the Cape, which is remarkable for a relative novice. He has a cool air about him and fights with a swagger that fans tend to love. It’s now up to us to build him.”
Fortunately Golden Gloves has decades of experience doing just that, having built and established the careers of dozens of elite-level fighters since the 1970s.
Jeff Ellis, the former heavyweight pro who manages all Golden Gloves’ events, is high on Prosser’s ability.
“I have my ear close to the ground and heard long ago about this exciting kid. He’s a puncher and he’s exciting. What’s not to love? It’s early days, but the signs are very promising.”
At 25, Prosser has come a long way from his days of being bullied as a youngster. His journey began with his grandfather, a former amateur boxer from KwaZulu Natal, who shared captivating boxing stories from the past. A detour to Australia followed, where young Prosser completed high school and dabbled in boxing.
At 18, he returned to Durban. A chance Instagram post connected him with Cape Town trainer Matt Leisching, who invited him to train. He duly packed his car and drove to Cape Town.
He competed in the WP and SA championships, winning several medals, and turned professional in 2023.
Despite his reputation as a banger, Prosser says he can offer more.
“I like to come forward. But I can fight in different styles. I’m blessed with power and have a bit of a mean streak. I enjoy hurting opponents; I want to entertain the crowd.”
The March 2 tournament, starting at 2pm, will be streamed exclusively live on the iME platform at a cost of R50: https://app.i-me.tech/ime-hub/stream-live/dfc4e03545a011ef99fd5d94113fdeb6/941ca567-979a-43d0-923c-158bd0a8e374
