Golden Gloves

The Golden Gloves Promotional empire is about to expand, and according to consortium CEO Rodney Berman, the acquisition of Tshifhiwa “Atomic Spider” Munyai (18-1-1), whose one of the most exciting young fighters in South Africa at present, will substantially bolster his stable for 2010.

“Munyai is trained by one of our erstwhile mentors, Elias Tshabalala, and I’ve no doubt that he has the potential to win a world title” said Berman.

Experts will recall that the experienced Tshabalala resurrected the flagging career of Dingaan Thobela, and against all odds, steered the “Rose of Soweto” to the WBC super middleweight title. Moreover, insofar as coaching expertise is concerned, Tshabalala is one of the most respected trainers in the country, and as Berman said, “It’s great to have our ‘Prodigal Son’ back in the fold”.

The 24-year-old Munyai stunned the boxing world in June 2006 when, with a record of 10-0-1, he left the country for the first time to box abroad against England’s Martin Power for the vacant Commonwealth bantamweight crown. Although Power came into that contest with an unblemished record of 19-0 and was the holder of the British bantamweight title, he was totally outclassed by Munyai who stopped him in the 9th round of their contest in London’s York Hall.

Following his victory at the York Hall, the colourful South African returned there, where he successfully defended his Commonwealth crown via a 6th round stoppage of Commonwealth flyweight kingpin Lee Haskins. In January 2007, he met Powers in a rematch at the Goresbrook Leisure Center in Dagenam, and after four one-sided rounds, Powers retired in his corner, claiming an elbow injury.

Thereafter, Munyai fought twice more in the UK and moved up to featherweight, where he scored two 8-round victories over Harry Ramogoadi and Abdul Tebazi, before returning to South Africa.

In February 2008, Munyai challenged Argentina’s Julio David Roque Ler for the WBA Intercontinental bantamweight title in Bloemfontein, and won an impressive points victory over 12 rounds. The “Atomic Spider” returned to Britain in July 2008, but in a featherweight bout over 8 rounds, he was beaten for the first time in his career on points by Ghana’s Osumana Akaba. After his only setback thus far, Munyai again resumed fighting in his homeland, and in defence of his WBA Intercontinental crown, he beat fellow countryman Bongani Mahlangu. Though the bout was, however, determined by a split decision, but it’s good to remember that at the time Mahlangu was the reigning WBA Pan African bantamweight titleholder. In his last bout, in July this year, Munyai halted Galley Cudjoe by means of a 1st round knockout in Johannesburg.

With nine knockouts to his credit, the good-looking Munyai, who hails from Limpopo Province, is obviously a puncher to be respected, and his trainer Elias Tshabalala has no hesitation in predicting he’ll win the WBA world bantamweight championship in 2010.

*Meanwhile, IBO world welterweight champion Lovemore Ndou will be jetting out of the country tomorrow night for Britain, where he’ll make the first defence of his IBO welterweight title against Matthew Hatton in Stoke-on-Trent on November 13.

Confident of victory, Ndou said, “I aim to bust him up real good and then challenge his brother Ricky to a bout in South Africa, which will coincide with my promoter Rodney Berman’s plans for a megabuck extravaganza at Emperors Palace around the time of the 2010 world cup soccer competition. It’s one fight I’m really looking forward to and I’m saying here and now that neither Hatton will prevent me from emerging victorious”.