Golden Gloves

Jason “Badman” Bedeman (10-0-2, 8 knockouts) along with Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen (9-0, 7 knockouts) and Flo “The Demolition Man” Simba (2-0, 2 knockouts) were Golden Gloves Promotions’ ‘KO’ thrill-providers during 2009!

So says GGP CEO Rodney Berman, after one of the most electrifying years in the Consortium’s history. “Make no mistake, both Oosthuizen and Bedeman are chilling punchers who left their mark on 2009 and while it may seem somewhat presumptuous to place the fledgling Simba in the same category as a knockout hitter, one only has to recall the fiery mechanics of his first two outings in the professional ring to acknowledge his burgeoning status as a high-voltage swatter” said Rodney Berman.

Certainly Tommy Oosthuizen has earned a reputation as arguably the most omnipotent one-punch hitter at his weight in South Africa at present and his destructive talents were never more evident than on the night he dismantled current national super middleweight champion Tshepang Mohale at Emperors Palace. Indeed the ‘bolt-from-the-blue’ left hand that sent Mohale to the canvas for the full count was one of the most frightening punches we’ve seen in this country for many years. Similarly Jason Bedeman’s trip-hammer left hook that flattened his last rival was especially memorable and Flo Simba utilized the same type of brutal blow to take his record to 2-0 in as many fights.

“Knockout artists are few and far between” said Berman, before adding, “yet we’ve seen enough of Oosthuizen, Bedeman and Simba to realize that these three 20-year-old’s rate among the most devastating finishers produced in South Africa in many a season”. While all three fighters are unbeaten as professionals, Bedeman, whose the IBO Africa lightweight champion, has boxed two draws en route to establishing himself as one of the most popular pugilists in South Africa. Trained by Manny Fernandes, the flaxen-haired Bedeman owns a splendid repetoire of punches and it’s debatable which of his blows; the left hook or right cross are the more damaging.

Moreover, though Simba is a renowned right hand bomber, in his second fight he uncorked a vicious left hook that trainer Harold Volbrecht has been perfecting for the last few months. And Oosthuizen? A rangy southpaw, the kid from Van dyk Park, Boksburg, is particularly effective when triggering his missile-like straight left but his mentor Volbrecht feels that the Tommy Gun’s right hand uppercut is possibly the home-run strike in his deadly ardenal. During 2009, Oosthuizen won three international titles in two weight divisions; namely the IBO Youth world light heavyweight, IBO Youth world super middleweight and WBA Pan Africa super middleweight titles.

No doubt this menacing trio will continue making huge inroads during 2010, as Berman plans what he believes will be a watershed in Golden Gloves Promotional history.