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You can always trust boxing to deliver.
It has only been a couple of weeks since I announced the Super Eight concept and the uptake has been enormous – everyone wants in and the fans are excited.
It proves the adage that when you have something out of the ordinary, no other sport can match boxing.
Just look at the hullaballoo around the Floyd Mayweather jnr-Manny Pacquiao fight: the world is waiting and the world is talking.
It is both boxing’s strength and its weakness that there has been little innovation in over 100 years. There has been a tweak here and there and things like the Super Six and Prizefighter series, but the sport generally remains true to its origins. I’m therefore not shy that I’ve taken a line from the US, where the Super Six was so successful.
It may have been too long and was plagued by injuries and withdrawals, but as a showcase for the super-middleweights and for boxing, it was outstanding.
It can work here too because we are sitting with so much individual talent at cruiserweight. Indeed, Danie Venter has just entered the mix and offers a lot given his blowout of Flo Simba last year.
This tournament is already attracting attention from all over Africa, not only because it is Pan-African, but because it holds the possibility of matching stablemates against one another. We could yet have Zack Mwekassa go up against Johnny Muller, for instance.
Adding further needle is whose corner the trainer would occupy in such an eventuality. This is unique and unparalleled – only in boxing!
I will ensure that every contestant signs a declaration that he cannot in the interim box at another event, ensuring the sanctity of the Super Eight.
I also intend elevating the final to a 12-round fight, all under the auspices of Boxing South Africa, who have to sanction it. I’ll be meeting them soon to discuss the whole tournament.
Naturally, there is the possibility of evolving the tournament. I may also do a heavyweight tournament, although it might make more sense to do it elsewhere on the continent given the dearth of heavyweights in SA. I’ll be chatting to a number of national commissions about this.
For now, it’s full steam ahead for the Super Eight here. I’m confident that with champion against champion we’ll soon have people talking about the fighters, especially as there will be a big television buildup.
I’m planning a major announcement for February 24, where we’ll confirm the contestants, and there’s every chance former super-middleweight great Joe Calzaghe will be special guest.
I would be pleased to know your thoughts . . .
Until next time.
January 23, 2012 at 6:47 pm, dilo said:
I think, before we get too carried away with the super 8 and climb into other division with the same concept, we should wait to see how this first instalment pans out. A possible scenario is that the well known boxers, Flo, zack, danie get taken out by relativly unknown boxers in the 1st round, would we still be excited? It all depends on how it pans out. The super 6 series was round robin, so you could afford a loss, but here, the crowd favorites can be beaten in round 1 with no repriev. I cannot believ that Mullers trainer will allow him to get in the ring with Zack. It could be detrimental to his health and future, so it would be great to see Muller building experience outside this super 8.Great if Calzaghe could attend. He is a truely great boxer. I’m sure we all think Hopkins is great and is a future hall of famer, well Calzaghe beat him, so how good was Calzaghe ? He is also 1 of the smarter boxers in the sport who retired at the right time when he was at the top with nothing more to prove. How often do we see guys trying to box till they past there best just to make the extra buck. Also,Let’s hope that this is a good year for SA boxing with our current champions (bonafide) holding onto there belts and geting more money fights and also at least 3 new world champions, not mickeymouse. Cheers
January 24, 2012 at 12:51 pm, pierre said:
WHat has Calzaghe got to do with this? He was hugely overrated and protected his “0″ in a way that makes Mayweather seem reckless by comparison. And how old was Hopkins when he fought Calzaghe – 43, 44?
January 25, 2012 at 7:11 pm, Dilo said:
> The article mentions that Joe Calzaghe might be a guest at the event, this is why i mentioned him. During his career, he fought the top guys in his division. Many of whom were in there prime. Eubank, Reid, Bika and many others. He unified the title when he beat an in form, undefeated Mikkel Kessler. He beat him convincingly.. Som would say Hopkins is still in his prime. After Calzaghe beat him, he has not lost in maybe 7 or so fights. But hey, that is the great thing about boxing, many people differ regards many boxers.. its great.. cheers
January 24, 2012 at 8:04 am, BOXMAN said:
Mr Berman you mention Simba, Venter, Mwekassa, Muller but what about Makabu? For this tournament to be creditable his got to be in the mix.
January 24, 2012 at 10:46 am, JonoB said:
What a crazy Twitt, who could that Pro Boxer be who fall out a tree?
What a rime, ha ha
January 24, 2012 at 11:05 am, Heavyweight said:
If Junior Makabu is not in the mix, then there is something wrong. Lets put Makabu in this super 8 tournament not only because he is an awesome boxer, but he will cause some serious upsets for both Zack and Simba!
January 25, 2012 at 12:15 pm, BOXMAN said:
Maybe thats why his not in the tournament….lol
January 26, 2012 at 7:14 am, sebastian said:
Dilo don’t just throw away guys like Muller, this division used to be his weight class and he did extremely well. I do think we could have a few upsets in this tourney… This is what boxing is all about!!!