GOLDEN GLOVES HISTORY

Rodney Berman's first venture into professional boxing took place on 29 August 1977, when Charlie Weir knocked out Bushy Bester at the at the Wembley ice rink.

It was the first milestone in a long and illustrious 30-year stretch, that has seen the Golden Gloves banner displayed in many countries throughout the world. To date, the Golden Gloves consortium has produced over 50 world champions, the majority of whom were South Africans. Amazingly, they were all crowned since March 1990.

The list of world champions, are: Welcome Ncita, Brian Mitchell, Vuyani Bungu(twice), Mbulelo Botile (twice) Phillip Holiday, Jacob Matlala (twice) Hawk Makepula, (thrice) Zolani Petelo, Lindi Memani, Jacob Mofokeng, Corrie Sanders (twice), Thulani Malinga,(twice) Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, (twice) Harry Simon (Namibia), Sebastiaan Rothmann (twice) Dingaan Thobela, Jan Bergman, Phillip Ndou, Robert Norton (UK),Glen Catley (UK), Shane Mosley (USA)-twice, Hasim Rahman (USA), Mhikiza Myekeni, Mzukisi Sikali, Zolani Marali, Thomas Mashaba, Isaac Hlatshway (twice), Malcolm Klassen, Nkosinathi Joyi, Albert Sosnowski (Poland) Mbwane Matumla (Tanzania) and Zolile Mbityi. An astute former attorney who is based in Rosebank, Berman has promoted more than 2,000 bouts in total, and has received numerous State Presidential awards for his services to the sport. He has also been honoured on several occasions by the IBF (International Boxing Federation) as well as the Maccabi Institute of South Africa.

A man of vision, Berman- despite intense criticism by the prevailing SA boxing authorities- ventured Columbus-like into new territorial waters when he became the first South African boxing promoter ever to work with the IBF (International Boxing Federation) in the mid-eighties. This occurred after Berman had journeyed to the United States in 1986 for in-depth talks with the then IBF President Bobby Lee. It proved to be one of the soundest moves ever orchestrated in the history of South African boxing and the rewards weren't long in coming. In fact, some of this country's finest world champions, like Welcome Ncita, Vuyani Bungu, Phillip Holiday, Brian Mitchell, Mbulelo Botile, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and Malcolm Klassen all went on to win IBF world championships.

Innovative by nature, Berman has constantly sought new goals and challenges and his reputation as the greatest promoter in the annals of South African pugilism has never affected his outgoing nature. If anything, he has remained unfazed by the reams of accolades that have come his way, preferring instead to praise his team of employees, all of whom hold him in the highest esteem.

Among the biggest tournaments Berman's Golden Gloves Promotions have staged were the "AMABUTHO EMPI" bill at the Carousel in 1997, the "THUNDER IN AFRICA" extravaganza at' Carnival City in April 2001, and "ALL THE KINGS MEN" at the same venue in May 2004. The latest marquee event took place at Emperors Palace on February 3, 2007, when Laila Ali headlined the bill that was billed as "ALI AT THE PALACE".

America's volatile promoter Don King (who co-promoted "All the King's Men") probably summed it up best when he said, and I quote: "Rodney's pilot light has guided South African boxing to lush and nourishing pastures that have nurtured this nation of boxing-loving people"-UNQUOTE.

That the African continent has collectively benefited from Golden Gloves Promotion's extensive activities abroad, cannot be disputed and the Rosebank-based consortium have furthered the ambitions of a number of fighters from foreign countries such as Congo, Botswana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Senegal.

Handshakes with overseas promoters like as Cedric Kushner, Don King, Adriaan Ogun, Lou Di Bella and Barry Hearn have, over the years, generally paid dividends, and South African boxing has reaped the rewards of Berman's far-sighted alchemy.

Moreover, no other South African Promotional group has equaled or maintained the remarkable success rate achieved by Golden Gloves Promotions.

Prior to the "THUNDER IN AFRICA" extravaganza in 2001, numerous foreign dignitaries applauded Berman on the manner in which his consortium had organized the glittering event, among them notable international journalists who felt that the famous "RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE" between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali in Zaire during 1974, paled by comparison.

Then too, there have been a host of other major tournaments, including "FIRE & ICE", "EYE-TO-EYE", and "LEGACY" all of which took place at Carnival City Casino.