Golden Gloves

When any boxing promoter has produced over seventy world champion, it’s safe to say that he’s vastly experienced in his particular field, and this is especially true of Golden Gloves Promotions CEO Rodney Berman, whose been in the fight mart since the mid-Seventies. It’s nonetheless illuminating, however, that Berman, who promoted world beaters like Brian Mitchell, Corrie Sanders, Dingaan Thobela, Vuyani Bungu, Sugarboy Malinga, Baby Jake Matlala, Mbulelo Botile, Phillip Holiday and numerous others, rates his current squad of boxers as the “most exciting I’ve ever had”.

“That’s not sales pitch” reflected Berman, ahead of his February 27 “PRELUDE” bill at Emperors Palace, which incidentally incorporates four championship bouts. “In fact, I cannot think of a better crop of emerging talent than the guys we are presently promoting” Berman added.

“Certainly we had an illustrious bunch of world champions in the past but just consider the electrifying impact made by boxers like Jason “Badman” Bedeman, Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen, Hekkie “The Hex-ecutioner” Budler, Isaac “The Golden Boy” Chilembe, Flo “The Demolition Man” Simba, Tshifhiwa “The Atomic Spider” Munyai  and Grant “The Fireball” Fourie, and you’ll find it difficult to disagree with my earlier prognosis” said Berman.
That the CEO of GGP has as many as five of his most valued fighters on the “PRELUDE” tournament roster is noteworthy, and then too the stage is set for current WBC Intercontinental light heavyweight king Isaac Chilembe to feature on a star-studded BANNER PROMOTIONS bill in the USA during March.
“A lot of people ask me which of my fighters is the most dynamic drawcard” added Berman. “Well, in all honesty that’s a very difficult question, because they all have certain alluring qualities. With Oosthuizen, it’s his skill as a high-voltage counter puncher…with Bedeman, his inbred tenacity and two-fisted power…with Munyai, his subtle moves and incisive combination hitting…with Budler, a feverishly exciting buzzsaw attack and with Simba and Chilembe, natural talent coupled with splendid punching power”.

If, however, Berman had to earmark the next huge local drawcard, methinks it might be one of; Bedeman, Simba, Chilembe or Oosthuizen, although that is naturally a personal perception.

Munyai too, has excellent potential, but since February 27 marks his debut performance under the GGP banner, the jury is still out on his box-office magnetism.

*Interestingly the Golden Gloves website (www.goldengloves.co.za) has been inundated with comments on Bedeman, Oosthuizen and Fourie, and Berman rightly feels that all three boxers have awesome futures in the roped square.