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It may have been a trifle ‘over the top’ to boxing purists who were filtering out of the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace on Tuesday night (April 27) but up-and-coming lightweight contender Bongani Dlamini(6-0, with 5 knockouts) simply took a leaf out of the Cassius Clay manual when he ‘called out’ current WBA Pan African lightweight champion Jason “Badman” Bedeman (11-0-2, 9 knockouts), ahead of a potential crunch meeting between the two fighters. Fight fans who recall the volatile nature of young Mr Clay’s antagonistic spurring of the awesome Sonny Listin back in 1964, felt similarly dismayed and even incensed when the 22-year-old “Louisville Lip” shot off his mouth, bating the world heavyweight champion ahead of one of the division’s biggest upsets since James J. Braddock beat Max Baer back in June 1935.
“You’re just an ugly bear” shouted Clay, who at the time was considered a ‘no hoper’ against the seemingly impregnable Liston. Yet contrary to all expectations, the man who would subsequently become Muhammad Ali was clearly messing with Liston’s mind and on the night of their fight, which took place in Miami Beach, the spring-heeled young challenger from Kentucky posted one of the most resounding victories in the history of boxing!
No doubt young Mr Dlamini, fresh from his third round pasting of an outclassed Takalani Dangala on the night, was biding his time before taunting the undefeated Badman, who won two international championships in 2009, namely the IBO Africa and WBA Pan African titles. However, late on Tuesday night Dlamini was clearly on a roll and shouted; “Bedeman have the guts to climb into the ring with me and let’s see how good you really are”. “I’ll take you on right now” replied Bedeman as a stunned crowd of observers looked on in disbelief.
Clearly the vitriolic exchange of words, fuelled as it was by Bedeman pulling out of their previously scheduled 8-round bout last month, was a carefully modulated bit of publicity on the part of the lavishly talented challenger and while Bedeman’s trainer Manny Fernandes heatedly responded to Dlamini’s allegations that Bedeman was afraid to fight him, by saying “We’ll take the fight…anytime…anywhere…but we want Jason’s title to be on the line in order to shut your big mouth”, most observers noted that the arrogant young Dlamini was willing to rumble there and then.
“My goodness, this guy is really something” said African Ring Promoter Jeff Ellis, whose only regret was that he never had a camera to capture what could well have erupted into a free-for-all near the entrance to the arena.
“Bedeman won’t have an easy night against Dlamini”, said former two-time Hall of Famer Brian Mitchell, “and from what I saw of his skills against Dangala, I’d find it difficult to pick a winner”.
Mitchell wasn’t the only one who was impressed and veteran fight watcher Paul Hetz was of the opinion that Dlamini would “carry far too many guns for a fighter of Bedeman’s ilk”.
Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman had left the arena immediately after the last fight on the bill and as a result missed the verbal exchange, but Sowetan newspaper correspondent Bongani Magasela and yours truly were on hand to calm down the situation which at one point looked like becoming explosive.
“Bedeman versus Dlamini should be a fiercely fought fight and I’d love to stage the match at our earliest convenience” said Berman, “providing of course there are no further hiccups in terms of Bedeman’s fitness”.
April 28, 2010 at 9:55 pm, Jono B said:
Hi guy
If Jason takes the fight it will be great.
Then when Jason knocks Bongani “OUT” then the likes of Mr Ellis and Mr hall of fame will get of the negative train, when Jason name comes up.
The BADMAN speaks with he’s hands not cheep words.
April 29, 2010 at 9:53 am, Danny D . said:
where an when?
April 29, 2010 at 12:54 pm, Sean M said:
Jason do the South proud.
By knocking that Bonganin out and keep working hard.
You are our Champ
April 29, 2010 at 12:56 pm, Jonathan said:
Hi guys is Jason going to fight again?
I love to watch that lion fight WOW!
Go Jason the BADMAN is back.
April 29, 2010 at 2:30 pm, lourens said:
DONT WORRY JASON ,HIS ALL TALK
April 29, 2010 at 3:03 pm, fight fan said:
Bedeman I whish you well boy. This one I hope you stop your opponant. Dlamini can not take a punch. And Bedeman also not. But Bedeman can give a punch. So watch out Dlamini.
April 29, 2010 at 4:39 pm, fight fan said:
DLAMINI IS GONNA KNOCK JASON OUT IN TWO ROUNDS.
April 29, 2010 at 7:51 pm, Mark B said:
Hey guy
Just remember Jason has the better “KO” record.
BADMAN knock Dlamini Out!
He has alot to say and make him think before he speaks.
Jason you are the Champ.
April 29, 2010 at 7:54 pm, Jono said:
Jason,Jason is the man.
So glad he is back in the Ring, that is where he belongs.
The young light weight King.
April 29, 2010 at 9:00 pm, Taptap said:
I favour dlamini he wil beat jason and after that he wil beat marali he wil go places
April 29, 2010 at 9:35 pm, "Uppercut" said:
I think this will be a good fight for both boxers.Mark, Jason might have the better “KO” record,but if he carries on like this he might also have the shortest career.In his last fight he got knocked down twice bye a jab,he still won,but I”ll be worried.
April 30, 2010 at 9:25 am, Britt said:
People, People let’s not remind our self of the two Jab’s.
People Bongani is the further of lightweight boxing the boy has such potential, my word I agree Tap tap he will beat Jason, Marali. And this boy will really go places
Maybe I am too much of a Bongani Dlamini fan but hey this boy has such class, I could help myself.
April 30, 2010 at 9:50 am, The Fan of The Badman said:
Looking forward to seeing the Badman in action again! Goodluck!
April 30, 2010 at 12:08 pm, Jono said:
If you know any thing about pure fighting talent, Jason is the future light weight World Champ thats for sure.
You obviously have nay sayers like you guys that think Jason is not that good, well he has two belt and to me that is what counts.(He won them with in 5 months )
Bongani has not taken a big punch yet of the likes of the Badman, he will know all about it.Mark my words
April 30, 2010 at 7:11 pm, Floyd said:
hey “fan of the badman”…I’m a fan myself and also looking forward to seeing him fight again, just wanna say Jason doesn’t need “good luck” – all he’s gotta bring into the ring is his usaul flair and talent!..and we his fans will all be be behind him every punch of the way when he knocks those challenging words out of Dlamini.
May 02, 2010 at 3:37 pm, wesley said:
dlamini is the business.bedeman is in over his head on this one if tuesdays action is anything to go by?
May 03, 2010 at 2:29 pm, Jono said:
Dlamini fought some guy that Jason woild of knocked out!
He has had no one that even has a name in South African boxing as yet, Dlamini is way over he’s head.
May 03, 2010 at 3:22 pm, Britt:-) said:
Jono if this fight happens, I hope your money is where your words are? I would be willing to bet that Bongani will beat Jason!
May 04, 2010 at 10:34 am, The Fan of The Badman said:
Agreed Floyd The Badman does not need luck as Im sure he will be properly prepared for this fight and will train very hard for it! Looking forward to it GOOOO BADMAN.
May 08, 2010 at 6:19 pm, tshabalala said:
Jason has only fought bums, who battle to make the weight and they still sit the badman on his backside! Jason has a dodgy chin and even worse boxing skills which im sure Bongani will expose, this is a BAD fight for the Bad man, goodnight sleep tight Bad man