Golden Gloves

When Emperors Palace announced their CRUNCH-TIME bill this coming Saturday night, I think they misplayed the degree of both showmanship and fierce antagonism that now permeates through the two-star world title event.

Naturally there are a couple more additional notches added to the IBO world welterweight title bout between reigning champion Lovemore Ndou (47-11-2, with 31 knockouts) and his rambunctious challenger Bongani Mwelase (14-0, with 12 knoickouts), that the Meadowlands splinter has treated with far more uncharacteristic arrogance than a fighter whose never been stopped!

“He’s nothing to me and has only fought bums” said Mwelase, who after all has never been beaten, though he’s been on the floor three times in his SA welterweight title victory. Trainer by Johnny du Plooy, the ex-heavyweight aspirant is certain that his fighter will halt the champion inside eight rounds, “Ndou is a good fighter, but he’s a good old fighter and at he’ll discover the difference in this weight when he’s faced with an eleven-years-old challenger”.

We’ve understood that Trainer Harold Volbrecht means to have his fighter Ndou threat the advanced betting-odds with some degree of decorum (Mwelase is a betting favourite) not trying too hard for a knockout over the first 11 rounds.

“We’ve the champs and Mwelase is a southpaw puncher who will be having his first outing against such an experienced fighter. Yes he’s got a big mouth and so does Johnny du Plooy, but in the end, Ndou will be too busy for him and win a compelling decision”.

IBO welterweight junior flyweight champion Gideon Buthelezi (10-2) has certainly no pretension about winning his bout over 12-round with Filipino challenger Julis Alcos (15-7) but the way the hard-hitting Philippines fighter looked at the South African, who only recently won the title in June, tells you this could be a very hard and gruelling fight.

The all Africa IBO lightweight champion and WBA Pan African champion Jason “Badman” Bedeman (12-0-2, with 10 knockouts) could have a rip-roaring challenger on his back in Sam Amaoak of Ghana, who enters the ring with a record of 6-2. If successful, the Badman will hopefully be fighting Ji-Hoon Kim in November on GGP’S biggest bout of the years!

In the preliminary bouts, Elvis Moyo –who was the only South Africa heavyweight who went the distance with challenges hotshot heavyweight contender Flo “The Demolition Man” Simba (6-0, with 5 knockouts), looks to extend his luck by again going the slated 6-pounds with another of South Africa’s knockout twins Johnny “The Hurricane” Muller. If he does so it will be an even of some standing.

In the final bout on the card, Ghana’s Paaoqkwesi Ankrah (3-3) will shape up to lethal hitting Flo Simba.