The most successful boxing promoter ever produced in South Africa, Rodney Berman staged his first boxing event at the Wembley Ice Rink, south of Johannesburg on 29 August, 1977. As the CEO of Golden Gloves Promotions, he has since promoted or co-promoted 207 world title events in various parts of the world. Born on January 27, 1943, his resume of world champions has been extensive to say the least, and includes over sixty fighters in total. Numbered amongst these, are legendary names like Shane Mosley, Brian Mitchell, Corrie Sanders, "Baby" Jake Matlala, Hasim Rahman, Sugarboy Malinga, Dingaan Thobela, Vuyani Bungu and Harry Simon.

That Berman has maintained his momentum over the past thirty years is as attributable as much to his instinctive flair as it is to his determination, not forgetting for a moment, that as a comparative novice, he competed against tough and uncompromising promoters like Jaap de Villiers and Dave Levin.

Introduced to professional boxing by erstwhile promoter and matchmaker Maurice Toweel, whom he was prosecuting at the time, Berman has never forgotten the lessons he learned whilst working with the fight game's most famous family.

Besides receiving the State Presidents Award for his contribution to professional boxing in South Africa, Berman was also the first South African promoter to secure a promotional boxing license in Britain and the first to initiate talks and a working relationship with the IBF (International Boxing Federation) despite intense criticism from several members of the SA Boxing Board of Control.

A man of tremendous vision, Berman also orchestrated some of the biggest boxing extravaganzas ever seen in South Africa, such as "Mmabatho Empi", "Thunder in Africa" and "All the Kings Men".

Unlike so many other promoters, he has shunned the limelight and regularly assists a number of cash-strapped boxing personalities in their times of need.

From an analytical point of view, the former attorney is undoubtedly one of the three most influential personalities in the history of the South African prize ring.

Terry Pettifer — Golden Gloves publicist.