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Smooth operator Zack Mwekassa would start among the favourites if Rodney Berman’s planned SuperSport Super Eight comes to fruition
Given the success of the just completed international Super Six tournament in America, won in style by super-middleweight hotshot Andre Ward at the weekend, promoter Rodney Berman is forging ahead with plans to stage an Africa-style tournament along similar lines.
Having assessed the state of the divisions, Berman believes that cruiserweight is the most vibrant, although he hasn’t ruled out trying something similar with the junior-lightweights in future.
“I see this as a great way of shaking up South African boxing,” said Berman, when revealing his plans this week. “The Super Six was terrific. It brought the best together, the fights were very competitive and most important of all, the structure resonated with boxing fans. My only reservation was that it was too long – a little over two years – while I envisage ours being 12 months or so.”
The names Berman is bandying about include Zack Mwekassa, Ilunga Makabu, Daniel Bruwer, Thabiso Mchunu and Flo Simba. He may also include other available continental fighters to give it a real Pan-African flavor.
Other potential contenders for the tournament could include Danie Venter, Manroy Sadic (DRC) and Lateef Kayode (US-based Nigerian).
Berman is thinking big and expects to include eight fighters, rather than six, and calling it the SuperSport Super Eight. A minimum purse for the first stage would be R100 000, with R150 000 for the next round, R200 000 for the semifinals and R500 000 for the winner, plus R300 000 for the runner-up.
“The Super Six really got me thinking,” said Berman. “We’ve got some real flavor in the division and some big hitters. It has the makings of a great tournament.”
One of the fights has already been made: Simba makes his cruiserweight debut on March 3 against Daniel Brower in a bout that has intrigue written all over it.
As ever, getting the SuperSport Super Eight going won’t come without challenges. Not all the boxers fight under the Golden Gloves banner and Berman would have to negotiate with his rivals.
But this is hardly likely to deter him as he eyes 2012 with renewed vigour and energy.
A potential junior-lightweight tournament also has great piquancy, especially with top contenders Jasper Seroka, Joey Stiglingh, Godfrey Nzimande and Sipho Taliwe in the mix.
December 21, 2011 at 1:15 pm, Britt said:
YEAH BABY the final will be Zack Mwekassa vs Ilunga Makabu
December 21, 2011 at 1:40 pm, Pierre said:
Brilliant! I proposed a cruiserweight Super Six a couple of weeks ago. I think making it an elimination format (as opposed to round robin) with eight fighters will make it even better: shorter and more attention-grabbing.
December 21, 2011 at 1:47 pm, THE IRON said:
Oooh Boy… Can you say KO! I can see some coming here. This is sure to spice up SA boxing and certainly will draw international attention. Rodney will be paying exceptional purses and the boxers are finally starting to earn what they’re worth. I wish Rodney the best and hope that this also gives Golden Gloves AND Rodney more exposure and fame, they deserve that. My prediction for the final would be Zack Mwekassa vs Lateef Kayode. This is surely a TOUGH one to call though as all these guys can fight!
December 22, 2011 at 9:08 pm, Uppercut said:
This will be a great showdown.My eight boxers will be Zack Mwekassa ,Ilunga Makabu,Daniel Bruwer, Thabiso Mchunu,Flo Simba ,Danie Venter, Lateef Kayode and Ruben Groenewald I don’t know Manroy Sadic so I will stick with these eight guys.
December 23, 2011 at 10:36 am, THE IRON said:
Ruben Groenewald has lost his boxing License at the hands of BSA Doc’s.
December 23, 2011 at 11:29 am, nomercy said:
I think johnny muller will do well in this group, to me he is a natural cruiser and he did much beter a cruiser and heavy than he is doing at light heavy, mabe he must think of packing on some muscle and banging it with these okes, most of whom is his sparring partners so he will know if he can’t or can! I think he can!
December 24, 2011 at 8:32 am, tanya said:
I agree 100% with you Nomercy. Muller will do well in this div. To me he lost a bit a power in light heavy. This is going to be explosibe!!
December 24, 2011 at 8:36 am, lee said:
Wow exiting news! Muller should put on a few pounds and be included! He is more a natural Cruiser than Light Heavy!
December 26, 2011 at 1:57 pm, Silvio Rangel said:
I like this A LOT,I think this will be the best tournament for 2012,I haven’t really watched zack fyt much,but from the little I saw,seems great,I woild really want to see flo win this tournament and prove 2every1 dat he is a great boxer,all da boxers r great and stong,it wil n a hard tournament.but I hope flo makes it. To da semi or final and even better if he wins it
December 28, 2011 at 12:16 pm, WP said:
Lightweight
Jasper Seroka
Joey Stiglingh
Godfrey Nzimande
Sipho Taliwe
Jason Bedeman
Grant Fourie
Warren Joubert
Ashley Dhlamini
now doesnt that that sound like fun
December 28, 2011 at 12:41 pm, Ruben Groenewald said:
To say i’m frustrated in an understatement. BS has taken away my boxing license. I have never received a single letter from them as to why my license was taken away. Whenever i phone them up the guy in charge just shouts and says i must phone their doctor. I phoned him, he told me it was him who told them I must never box again, because of my asthma which i’ve had since i was 12. I said but dr you’ve never examined me. I arranged to see him, i did a 3 minute fitness test with an ESG strapped to my body.after 3 mins he told me to stop.I was just getting warmed up.He said sorry ruben you cant box as you’re not fit’. I said but i came for my asthma, he said ‘your asthma is fine but you’re not fit’. So there you have it. they are taking away my right to earn a living. Boxing is my life and I want to enter this super 6 tournament as I believe i’ll win it. I was unlucky against bruwer. I won that fight but the ref denied me. Please mr Berman, help me to fight on your show. if BSA cant give me an answer in writing, then i’ll take legal action against them. they make the rules and they break them. Give me a chance. I’m sitting with letters from top specialists in england and south africa who all cleared me fit to box yet bsa’s doctor who’s just a normal gp says i’m not fit to box. I dont want to but i will take this further. i’ve lost hundreds of thousands of rands because of this.
December 28, 2011 at 12:47 pm, dennis said:
Right on Nomercy! Great idea, I also think Muller should get the muscle on and compete in the super 8. He certainly is more than capable to give these guys a run for their money! Come on Mr B, how about it?
December 30, 2011 at 1:39 pm, Heavyweight said:
I think Ruben Groenewald should be on the Super 8 bill. Leave Danie Venter as a heavyweight and replace him with Ruben Groenewald. Danie did well as a heavyweight by knocking out Flo Simba in the very first round. Please Mr Berman let us see Ruben Groenewald in action again!
December 31, 2011 at 7:10 am, Fan of the Gun said:
Just saw the interview with Zack Mwekassa on Ringside yesterday … and I must say ….. he sure sounds determined to get rid of ANYONE who stands in his way !!!
January 01, 2012 at 10:26 am, Ruben Groenewald said:
All due respect to all the cruiser weights on this tournament. But I’ve got the most experience. You can buy a lot of things but you cant buy experience. I’ve had asthma since I was a teenager. It didn’t stop me as I went on to win all the regionals and the south african amateur title twice including a gold medal at the All African junior games in Mauritius. As a pro i’ve won 4 international titles including the world title when i was a 13 to 1 underdog in front of 22 000 people. I’m not blowing my own trumpet, just stating some facts, stuff i overcame to box and to win. The world class boxer Donito Donaire has asthma. Shanon Briggs has asthma. Gerrie Coetzee had asthma. Evander Holyfield has an enlarged heart. David Beckam, Paul Stoltz has asthma, anybody try running around on a football field for 90 minutes. I hope this issue can be resolved so I can take part on this tournament and earn an honest living. I’ve worked with some big time promoters in most countries and Rodney Berman is one of the best promoters in the world. I sincerely hope he can help me. I lived in England for 10years, I’m happy to be back with my family. I’m looking after my mother since my father passed away a year ago. I need this tournament. Thanks Golden Glover. Great website. Top guys.
January 04, 2012 at 3:40 pm, Jono B said:
I must say Ruben Groenewald sould get a fair chance to fight in this Supper 8.
If any one saw the fight with Bruwer? Ruben was a better boxer on the night, than Bruwer!
Mr Berman I think Ruben has more fans than Bruwer, reason Ruben is a real Sports men and gives South African Boxing a good name.
He has put some true pionts across about he’s asthma, it can not limit you if you are fit and healthy.
Good Luck Ruban,I and many of your fan wish to see you doing what you do best BOX!
January 05, 2012 at 4:42 pm, Anton said:
Danie is a Heavyweight and will stay n heavyweight and why not set him up for the SA Title with Wiseman it seems to me he is back to stay come on bring the title back to GP
January 05, 2012 at 5:22 pm, DIan said:
Can someone please look into the Ruben/BSA situation, if what Ruben is saying about the medical “expert” is true something is a miss. I have not seen Ruben box but he seems motivated to be in the ring…as for the super 8 ..awesome idea. Go Flo lets get back to winning. However I saw Zack fight last yeat and he seems to be a “unit” with the correct training and attitude that should go far. Hope to see some great fighting action this year
January 06, 2012 at 7:22 am, Ruben Groenewald said:
it is one hundred percent true as I’ve said it. I’m going to report this doctor to the National Professional Health Council. I am going to bring BSA down. Last year they allowed a boxer to fight on a televised show and the boxer didn’t have a license. In 2008 they allowed a show in Lenasia to go ahead yet there was no ringside doctor. Loyiso just said ‘we weren’t supposed to go ahead with the show but we took a chance and thank god there were no injuries’. Row bad is that? So they think they can make rules and also break rules. We’ll see what the south african asthma association has to say about it. And what about sports people like David Beckham, Paul Scoltz, Shanon Briggs, Paula Radcliff and more. All asthma sufferers. I’ve been offered to fight thabiso mchunu on his promoter’s show. His promoter told me thabiso needs a warm up before going to Vegas. Yeah right. I’m still laughing. I told him he’s in the wrong business, that he should become a stand up comedian. I’d rather fight thabiso on a golden gloves show at Emperors where we can have a full house. Good luck guys. Follow the papers and the news regarding my story. I’m very frustrated
January 06, 2012 at 10:54 am, Britt said:
I rate Ruben’s got a punchers chance against BSA.>
January 10, 2012 at 9:40 am, Dilo said:
> Can you not fight in Denmark or Canada like Dingaan Thobela did? It would be much easier than trying to take on BSA.
January 06, 2012 at 12:16 pm, pierre said:
Zack is the business, and what a decent and humble guy. Before he even became a boxer, he used to sleep on the floor at Steve Kalakoda’s gym in Cape Town where I was doing kickboxing at the time. It’s great to see how far he has come, and I have no doubt he can go further and take a world title. I’d love to see him fight Junior Makabu – that would be a war. Having seen them both in action, I have a feeling Zack would overpower Junior by the middle rounds and knock him out. As for Thabiso, he needs to change his style. Being as short and stocky as he is, he needs to really focus on his stamina and fight like a Dwight Muhammad Qawi – head on his opponent’s chest and throw hooks and uppercuts all night long. Then again, not everyone can be a Dwight Qawi…
February 21, 2012 at 1:33 am, Ruben Cinderella Man Groenewald said:
hahahaha