Golden Gloves

November 27th 2009

Per courtesy of Filipino Manny Pacquiao’s unprecedented feat of winning a seventh world title in as many weight divisions, international boxing is currently on a pinnacle not realized since the electrifying era of Muhammad Ali!

Indeed, the phenomenal “Pacman”, who has stunned experts time and again with his multi-dimensional brilliance, may well be regarded as the fistic Messiah that the post-Ali era has for so long desired. Oh, there were numerous flag-bearers who sought planetary dominance since “The Greatest”, among them Hall of Famers like Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler , Julio Cesar Chavez and, Oscar de La Hoya, but lets face it, aside from the splintering rise and fall of heavyweight Mike Tyson, the sport never attained as marketable a product as the irrepressible Ali.

That is, not until now! That the 30-year-old Pacquiao, has resurrected global interest in the “sweet science” cannot be denied, and in a hitherto unparalleled move, betting has already opened ahead of an expectant mega-buck crunch meeting between Pacquiao and his immediate “best pound-for-pound” predecessor Floyd Mayweather in 2010! So the fight has yet to be signed, but in the case of Mayweather versus Pacquiao, it’s not a matter of IF but rather WHEN the two current ring marvels will exchange leather-encased missiles! Methinks the respective pay packets for such an explosive ‘Super Fight’ will be lucrative enough to fund a crusade.

The spin-off generated by an athlete of Pacquiao’s class, inevitably radiates throughout the world, though it’s perhaps coincidental that South Africa presently boasts a burgeoning crop of potential world beaters in several weight divisions, ranging from junior flyweight to heavyweight.

With the 2010 World Cup Football tournament scheduled to take place in South Africa, it’s understandable that the prospects alluded to, will be champing-at-the-bit in anticipation of the festivities to come, especially since a massive boxing extravaganza is being planned for Emperors Palace on June 18, next year (the Mecca of South African boxing) as a prelude to football’s premier event.

Confident that 2010 will be a year in which millions of South Africans savour the thrills and excitement relevant to playing host to the Football World Cup, it’s hardly surprising that Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman has entrusted his faith in a resourceful young group of starlets, most of whom could achieve universal fame.

In fact, Berman makes no secret of the fact that two of his most riveting talents; Tommy Oosthuizen and Isaac Chilembe may well be on collision course. “Within the next couple of years, they could be slugging it out in one of the biggest local super fights ever staged in this country” said Berman. “Between them they already own six championship straps and providing they both continue to win, who knows?”

TOMMY “TOMMY GUN” OOSTHUIZEN:

Record: 9-0, (7 knockouts)    KO % 77.78

Date of birth: April 2, 1988

Style: Southpaw

Trainer: Harold “The Hammer” Volbrecht

Strengths: Power, size, speed, accuracy.

One of the most lavishly talented boxers in South Africa at present, Oosthuizen stands 6’4” in height and sports an albatross-like wingspan. Son to former two-division national champion Charles, the 21-year-old Tommy is a natural super middleweight and in 2009, he achieved the distinction of winning three internationally recognized belts; namely the IBO Youth world light heavyweight, IBO Youth world super middleweight  and WBA Pan African super middleweight titles.

Based in Van Dyk Park, Boksburg, the savage punching Oosthuizen has been dubbed “Tommy Gun” though the built-in leather bullets that are fired from his left-handed stance could more appropriately be likened to that of a 44-Magnum.

A crippling hitter with either hand, Oosthuizen, who turned professional on July 15, 2008, is essentially a counter puncher, but his predatory instincts have revealed a belligerence that can readily smear the opposition all over the canvas. To date his best wins have come against Jared “The Storm” Lovett (W 12-for the vacant IBO Youth light heavyweight title), Cleber Argente Alves (W 12-for the vacant IBO Youth super middleweight title) and Tshepang Mohale (KO 4-for the vacant WBA Pan African super middleweight title).

Coached and managed by former undefeated SA welterweight champion Harold “The Hammer” Volbrecht, the string-bean Oosthuizen has emerged a knockout victor in seven of his fights, leveling four opponents in the opening round, and is an important role player in Golden Gloves Promotional plans for 2010.

ISAAC “THE GOLDEN BOY” CHILEMBE:

Record: 14-1, (8 knockouts)    KO % 53.33

Date of birth: May 17, 1987

Style: Orthodox

Trainer: Elias Tshabalala

Strengths: Speed, combinations, versatility.

A Malawi-born boxer/fighter, Chilembe started fighting professionally in South Africa, and made his debut on October 19, 2005. Unbeaten in his first eight bouts, Chilembe dropped a close points decision to Wilberforce Shihepo in July 2007, but reversed that decision four months later by outpointing his former conqueror over 6 rounds.

Ever since, his rate of development has proved eye-catching, and he won three championship belts in his last three bouts; namely the vacant African Boxing Union super middleweight, vacant WBO Africa light heavyweight and WBC International light heavyweight titles.

Managed by Jody Solomon and coached by Elias Tshabalala, this highly articulate young man fashioned some telling performances en route to the first of his championship wins, stopping both David Kitooke (W TKO and Chamunorwa Gonorenda (W KO 4).

He was, until recently, training under Colin Nathan at the Hotbox gymnasium north of Johannesburg, before opting to join the highly experienced Elias Tshabalala, who previously steered the likes of Cassius Baloyi and Dingaan Thobela to world titles.

Though essentially a clever boxer with extremely quick hands, Chilembe has understated power as evidenced by his knockout ratio, and looks virtually certain of obtaining a tilt at the world light heavyweight title sometime during the next twelve months. Based on Chilembe’s ongoing capacity to learn, his promoters have secured him an outing in the United States early in 2010 on a Banner Promotions bill.

HEKKIE “THE HEX-ECUTIONER” BUDLER:

Record: 13-0 (5 knockouts) KO % 38.46

Date of birth: May 18, 1988

Style: Orthodox

Trainer: Colin Nathan

Strengths: Stamina, work ethic, handspeed, courage.

“A miniature tornado with boxing gloves” is the way one fight pundit describes Hekkie Budler, and it’s arguable whether there’s a more fiercely determined young fighter in South Africa at present. A former amateur star, Budler, who breeds Python snakes as his hobby, turned professional in July 2007 and scored a 1^st round knockout over Michael Sediane in his debut performance at Emperors Palace.

An ultra-conservative young man outside the ring, Budler is a human punching machine once the bell rings and his fiery combinations have seen him streak to 13 victories in succession, despite facing some rugged opposition, like Ronald Parks, Charity Mukondeleli, Doctor Ntsele and Khanyakude Mukansi. In his 12^th outing, Budler won the vacant IBO all-Africa junior flyweight title by pounding out a unanimous 12-round points verdict over Doctor Ntsele on September 29, 2009 and he subsequently defended his title with a one-round stoppage over Motswaki Moselesele the following month.

A boxer who eats, drinks and sleeps boxing, Budler is one of the finest conditioned athletes in the fight game and his cyclonic efforts are often reminiscent of the famed “Baby” Jake Matlala, who campaigned for much of his career as a junior flyweight.

At age 21, Budler is still comparatively ‘green’ in the professional fight industry, yet according to his mentor Colin Nathan, the West Rand fighter is continually refining his talent, especially in terms of his defensive skills.

TSHIFHIWA “THE ATOMIC SPIDER” MUNYAI:

Record: 18-1-1 (9 knockouts)   KO % 45

Date of birth: May 8, 1985

Style: Orthodox

Trainer: Elias Tshabalala

Strengths: Skill, movement, combinations, handspeed, defence.

A resident of Limpopo Province in the north of South Africa, this splendidly talented bantamweight has the potential to become a major force in international boxing and Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman is optimistic of him winning a world title in 2010.

Trained by Elias Tshabalala, the smooth-boxing Munyai flaunts excellent handspeed and has an unerring left jab. To date Munyai has achieved substantial recognition as a Commonwealth, WBA Intercontinental, and WBA International bantamweight champion, kudos he earned by defeating Martin Power, Bongani Mahlangu and Galley Cudjoe respectively. He has also competed as a featherweight, and has no fear or trembling moving up a weight division.

A professional since December 2003, Munyai is 24-years-old and personally figures to be around the international scene for at least another six years. An ambitious, good-looking fighter, he radiates charisma, which is a scarce commodity amongst most bantamweights these days. Clearly there is no lack of scope for the “Atomic Spider” and Promoter Berman plans on having his latest signing appear on one of business associate Art Pellulo’s Banner Promotions tournament fight cards early next year.

Not that fighting abroad is anything new to Munyai, who’s already featured on half-a-dozen bills in the United Kingdom over the past three years.

“Certain boxers have a championship aura from the outset of their careers and Munyai is one of them” said Berman, who has struck rich with a number of legitimate bantamweight world titleholders in the past.

JASON “BADMAN” BEDEMAN:

Record: 9-0-2 (7 knockouts)    KO % 63.34

Date of birth: March 25, 1989

Style: Orthodox

Trainer: Manny Fernandes

Strengths: Durability, power, stamina, infighting.

A granite-like fighter from Rosettenville, in the Southern Suburbs of Johannesburg, this 20-year-old warrior won the vacant IBO Africa lightweight title on September 12, 2009 by stopping the previously unbeaten Grant “The Fireball” Fourie (10-0) in the 10^th round of a blistering battle at Emperors Palace. A pin-up fighter for young tough guys, Bedeman loves warring in the trenches and is unusually strong for a man of his weight. A professional since May 2008, he relishes standing toe-to-toe with the opposition and though being held to draws in two of his fights, the win over Fourie may have been a turning point in his blossoming career. In his next outing on November 30, 2009, he’s scheduled to meet Joseph Modise in an eagerly awaited rematch. Their first meeting earlier this year ended in a controversial 6-round draw at the Nasrec Indoor Arena. Incidentally most experts felt that Bedeman was unlucky not to have won that fight.

Coached by Manny Fernandes, whose one of South Africa’s most reputable trainers, the flaxen-haired Bedeman has his sights firmly set on winning a world title during 2010, and if judiciously piloted, this hammer-fisted young athlete may well accomplish that ambition. Bedeman’s next outing is in March 2010 at Emperors Palace on an African Ring/Golden Gloves co-production.

FLO “THE DEMOLITION MAN” SIMBA:

Record: 1-0 (1 knockout)    KO % 100

Date of birth: September 29, 1989

Style: Orthodox

Trainer: Harold Volbrecht

Strengths: Physique, power, youth, jab, right hand.

A knockout victor on his professional debut at Emperors Palace on October 31, 2009, Flo Simba was ushered into the professional ranks on a wave of pre-advanced publicity unprecedented since the heady days of heavyweights Gerrie Coetzee and Kallie Knoetze. A terrific amateur prospect, he turned to the punch-for-pay ranks after convincing several experts that he had the raw potential to become a world champion. Only 20-years-old, Simba naturally has a long road ahead of him, but his manager; two-time Hall of Fame inductee Brian Mitchell believes that his powerfully-built protégé has a preponderance of natural talent and the stopping power of a Mac-truck in his lethal right hand. “The way he demolished Bernard Vance in his first professional fight convinced me that we’ve got a world class prospect on our books” said Mitchell, and most fight mavens readily agree with him!

JOEY STIGLINGH:

Record: 6-0 (4 knockouts)    KO %   66.67.

Date of birth:

Style: Orthodox.

Trainer: Colin Nathan.

Strengths: Fitness, two-handed punching, movement.

A young featherweight whose won six contests on the trot, and showed ongoing improvement, by stopping his last four rivals in impressive fashion.

Stiglingh, like so many other fine prospects, hails from the south of Johannesburg, and after an extensive amateur career, he turned professional on September 25, 2008.

Looks to be a genuine find, and if he can maintain his form, 2010 could be a year in which he underlines his presence among South Africa’s featherweight competitors.

DANIEL “BILLY THE KID” BRUWER:

Record: 20-1-1, (17 knockouts)    KO % 77.27

Date of birth: December 24, 1984

Style: Orthodox

Trainer: Harold “The Hammer” Volbrecht

Strengths: Jab, power, chin, right hand, stamina.

Bruwer turned professional in September 2003, and won his first 10 bouts on stoppages, before being held to an 8-round draw by Fernando Vera on February 24, 2005. A booming right hand has been responsible for most of his knockouts, though he also possesses an understated left hook.

His only setback to date occurred on August 31, 2005, when he challenged Andre Thysse for the SA super middleweight title and lost a unanimous 12-round decision.

Ever since, Bruwer has swept aside all his opposition, which included a national light heavyweight championship victory over Soon Botes (W TKO 10) on November 12, 2007. En route to dethroning the perennial Botes, the sharp-shooting Bruwer had halted both Eduardo Fraca (KO 3) and former SA middleweight star Rupert van Aswegen. (W TKO 10).

Bruwer subsequently defended his SA light heavyweight crown against Anthony van Niekerk (W TKO 12) and Ronnie Lategan (W TKO 6) and is now set to rejoin Golden Gloves Promotions, where he’ll be trained by erstwhile national welterweight titleholder Harold “The Hammer” Volbrecht and managed by two-time Hall of Famer Brian Mitchell.

At age 25, the Meyerton-based fighter is incredibly rugged and has excellent credentials as a come-from-behind finisher, as evidenced in his electrifying wins over Van Aswegen and Van Niekerk.