Golden Gloves

Mindful that 2010 will be the biggest year in the history of South African sport, Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman plans to kick off the new season’s fistic roster on February 27 at Emperors Palace, with an ideal appetizer to the mammoth “BLOCKBUSTER” tournament he’s planned for June 18 at the same venue. “As a prelude to 2010’s Football World Cup event in South Africa, we’ll be striving harder than ever to project the glittering ring talent at our disposal and while our extravaganza in June has yet to be finalized, I can assure you it will be one of the most lavishly orchestrated boxing spectacles this country has ever known”
said Berman. Indeed, after the official draw for the World Cup Competition on December 4, Berman will be traveling abroad for an extensive meeting with his American business associate Art Pellulo of Banner Promotions and members of ESPN television to discuss the format for the June 18 tournament.

Africa’s most successful boxing promoter ever, Berman has been staging world title fights since 1977, and his overall tally currently stands at 216, which is unprecedented on the African continent. The February bill, which Berman suggests dubbing “PRELUDE” will naturally mirror the skills of some of South Africa’s most exciting fighters, a number of whom will definitely figure on the June 18 “BLOCKBUSTER” event. Mind you, the CEO of Golden Gloves readily admits that there’ll be certain additions to the list. “We’ve already identified six local boxers who’ll figure on the ‘Blockbuster’ show, but given our ongoing negotiations with both Banner Promotions, Hatton Promotions and ESPN, there is sure to be some exciting inclusions, which I cannot elaborate upon at this point in time” said Berman.

However the February bill has virtually been finalized, and it’s hardly surprising that the menu includes the likes of WBA Pan African super middleweight champion Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen (9-0, 7 knockouts), IBO Africa junior flyweight king Hekkie “The Hex-ecutioner” Budler (12-0, 5 knockouts), WBA International bantamweight titleholder Tshifhiwa “Atomic Spider” Munyai (18-1-1, 9 knockouts) and exciting young starlets like Flo “The Demolition Man” Simba (1-0, 1 knockout) and Joey “Stingray”Stiglingh (6-0, 4 knockouts).

Notable omissions who will nevertheless figure on other Berman co-orchestrated bills in March 2010, include WBC International light heavyweight champion Isaac “The Golden Boy” Chileme (14-1, 8 knockouts) and IBO Africa lightweight ruler Jason “Badman” Bedeman (9-0, 7 knockouts). “Chilembe has an outing in the United States and Bedeman will be appearing on Jeff Ellis’ star-studded March tournament at Emperors Palace” said Berman.

Berman admitted that he’d love nothing more than including Daniel “Billy the Kid” Bruwer ( 20-1, 17 knockouts) on the February bill, but much will depend on the actions Bruwer has instituted against his former manager and promoter. “We hope to have matters resolved as speedily as possible” said Berman, obviously referring to Bruwer’s decision to rejoin Golden Gloves Promotions and employ ace trainer Harold Volbrecht and two-time Hall of Famer Brian Mitchell as his manager.

And which opponents will Berman’s Class of 2010 be facing as 2010 gets underway?
“We’ll be hosting a large press conference next week to announce full details pertaining to our February show, but for now I can reveal that Budler will definitely be fighting a ‘Top 10’ WBC rated fighter, and Munyai will either be fighting for a world title or be involved in a world title eliminator. As for Oosthuizen, we’ve guaranteed this splintering puncher a crack at either a highly ranked international contender or –if it’s at all possible- a bout against William Gare, whose already had 40 fights as a professional and at various times held the SA super middleweight, SA junior middleweight WBF super middleweight and WBC International junior middleweight titles. Alas, for now Gare seems to be running scared of Tommy, so it looks like we’ll have to pursue our first option” concluded Berman.