Naturally I speak of Flo Simba (21) and Johnny Muller (20) both coached by Harold Volbrecht and managed by Brian Mitchell.

That these two blistering punchers are both booked to appear on the Emperors Palace  CRUNCH TIME on September 18, that features two world titles; the IBO world welterweight bout between Australia-based Lovemore Ndou and Bongani Mwelase and the IBO world minimum weight contest between Gideon Buthelezi and Julius Alcos of the Philippines, is no surprise and I doubt whether they will be any main line event at Emperors Palace in the next year in which neither man will appear. That is if our pair of heavyweight thumpers continue to progress up the heavyweight path.

Oh yes, there are several more mouth-watering morsels, such as the Rosettenville Jason “Badman” Bedeman and Sam Amaoak of Ghana, and if one is to be believed, the 21-year-old Bedeman will seek to keep his record clean by another kayo, which would bring his record to 13-0-2, with 11 knockouts in anticipation of the biggest fight of his life.

This past week, however, Golden Gloves Promotions announced that SA heavyweight champion Osborne “Big Daddy” Machimane (18-6-1, with 13 knockouts) will be rejoining Elias Tshabalala and while he is yet to fashion in any of our projected schemes, you can bet that the 32-year-old champion will be watching the progress of Simba and Muller, both of whom he highly respects!

Muller (21) who could well be in Spartan training, has steadily moving down to the cruiserweight limit, but will be fighting the much heavier  Elvis Moyo and if the big guy, who went the distance with Flo Simba, manages to last the 6-slated rounds, it will be a feather in Moyo caps. I don’t see it happening, however and if punching effectiveness is one of the most sought after assets a fighter can own, Muller will certainly be around for a long time! Simba will face Paakwesi Ankrah of Ghana and it’s noteworthy that the huge foreigner has already fought for ABU Africa heavyweight titles, though without much success. Accustomed as one is of seeing the 21-year-old Simba’s opponents fall like dead cattle, I’d like to see a fighter who can at least make the good-looking Simba’s life more interesting, lets say for four or five months!

“Jason is that type of person, and he really believes in his divine message of being a world champion” said Fernandez. “Mind you it isn’t everyone who tells Rodney Berman that he means to win a world title before his twenty-second birthday, especially when you consider who Bedeman has his eye on fighting”.

Mind you, both Berman and Fernandez were among the first to express not only wonder but a feeling of admiration for who the Badman is looking to fight. Former IBO lightweight champion  Ji-Hoon Kim (21-6-0 with 18 knockouts).

Until recently the rugged Kim, who is also marketed by Golden Gloves Promoters and our American business partners Banner Promotions, was undefeated in 13 fights (12 by knockouts) and had beaten everyone since being beaten on points by Makyo Sugita in 10 rounds (20-1-2) in July 2006. A South Korean, Kim, who is 23-years-old, is nicknamed the “Volcano” and after posting a number of rousing wins by knockouts, he journeyed to Emperors Palace when he knocked out Zolani Marali (20-2) in the ninth round to claim the IBO world lightweight title. “I hit him continually but the guy just kept coming and I don’t think there’s a tougher lightweight in the world” said Marali.

After returning to the United States, Kim surprised a great many fight fans by defeating Ameth Diaz (W TKO 1) and Tyrone Harris (W TKO 5). However, when the resilient South Korean was matched for the vacant IBF lightweight title against Miguel Vasquez recently, he was beaten on points over 12 rounds.

A promoter who’s worked with fighters all over the world and helped orchestrate no less than 70 of them a world title, Berman is obviously stirred by the lion-hearted South African fighting Kim, possibly on our November 6, bill at Emperors Palace. But in order for that to happen, the merciless-hitting Bedeman will need to win his undercard fight scheduled for 10 rounds against Ghanaian lightweight Sam Amoako (6-2) without preamble!

“Look we have an important fight on September 18 at Emperors Palace” said Fernandes, “And yet I don’t believe there is a lightweight in Africa who has the beating of Bedeman. Once we put the skids under this guy Amoako we’ll gladly sign for Kim and the lightweights will see a war that won’t be for the faint-hearted.” said Fernandes.

But whereas the relentless punching Kim has been in there with an assortment of world rated opposition, Bedeman’s array of names have lacked that of a genuine title contender, and while his stamina and drive are indications that he’ll be willing to stand toe-to-toe and slug with one of the greatest pure brawlers in recent history, he could be fighting a losing battle! “Jason can change his style said Fernandes and even if he is getting outmuscled, he knows how to change things around”

“Bedeman best wins have been against Bongani Dlamini (W TKO 3), Bilal Mohammed (W TKO 2), Joseph Modise (W TKO 1) and Grant “The Fireball” Fourie (W TKO 10) and based on what I’ve seen those guys are just not in the Kim league, but I suppose I could be wrong” said man-about-boxing Jeff Ellis, who nevertheless believes Bedeman will rise from the deck to win one of the greatest lightweight wars ever seen in this country.

Jeff Ellis of Africa Ring is lining up two box-and-dine affairs and it’s not certain which one the 32-year-old SA champion will be possibly lining up to fight Nel, one at the end of October or the other at the end of November.

As things stand, both Osborne and Nel have a pair of punctuating wins for the national title, and now more than five-years later, it looks like the two veterans would like to settle their deal one and for all. “I’d love to fight Anton again” said Osborne who clearly respects the heavy thunder Nel has in his right glove.

“Anton, who is 6’ 2” and stands 189 cm, is a real hard banger and he won the SA heavyweight title by knocking out Sam Ubokane in the first round, but then lost it to the surprisingly powerful Jacob Mofokeng” said Jeff Ellis.

Yet in 2001, after Mofokeng lost his title due to a debilitating illness, Nel beat Cape Town’s Jokki Oberholzer in the 1^st round to win the vacant crown and then proceeded to real of a number of knockouts; Sam Ubokane (TKO 3), Osborne Machimane (W TKO 10), Wiseman Dlomo (W KO 6) and sensational new coming Danie Venter (W SD 12).

Like Machimane, the hard-hitting Nel, who is now 42, is a good puncher and he has scored 12 knockouts during his career, and owns a first round knockout of former kick boxing champion Mike Bernado. After a number of years in retirement, Nel lost to Kali Meehan (L KO 3) in Australia, with a severed lip being the chief sense of his third round stoppage. He then surprised the clever boxing Piet Cronje by stopping the younger man in the first round.

Mind you Du Plooy, seems to knows exactly what to expect from the defending champion. “Lovemore will do what he does best, namely come out boxing from behind a left jab and trying to soften his opponent up at close quarters Come September 18, I can assure you that Ndou is not going to know what hit him, a lead pipe or a shattering uppercut. Take it from me, Ndou won’t go the distance for the first time in his career”

Now on a roll Du Plooy added, “Looking at his (Ndou) record the guys already had 60 fights, of which he only lost 11 and was never counted out! Yet, my knowledge of boxing tells me that for a 39-year-old champion to be thrown into the ring with such a far taller opponent and marginal heavier to boot, the titleholder must feel a readiness to win. Alas, I have to tell Lovemore that he’ll be back in his dressing room before half way in the fight, and he’ll need some urgent need for repairs” said Du Plooy.

That the colourful, albeit hugely talented Mwelase has already held three titles (SA welterweight, WBF welterweight, and WBF light middleweight) says much for his skill and courage yet who can ever forget that he had to pull himself over the floor in both the 11^th and 12^th round to defeat the former SA welterweight champion Lucky Lewele by scores of 114-113, 114-112 and 114-112 in 2007. Since then, this splintering hitting southpaw has defeated a mixed bag of contenders like Juan Villarreal, Ali Nuumbembe and Attila Kovacs, though none were of the calibre of Mr Ndou’s opponents.

Yet if Du Plooy is to be believed, Mwelase will have a staggering physical presence on his side, and one that could at this stage remind the ageing titleholder that while he may arguably have faced a harder hitting opponent (Paul Malignaggi, Kermit Cintron and Miguel Angel Cotto), this 28-year-old Meadowlands may have the style to score a knockout.

Du Plooy concluded by saying, “Mwelase is 6’0” /183 cm and the defending champion is 5’8” /173 cm and while Ndou says he ‘loves southpaws’ I can think of one he wont have any time to like. Mwelase will win the IBO world welterweight title and thumb a nose at those critics who accused him of not being for real!”

At 6’3” and 192 cm, Machimane is certainly an imposing sight but the big fellow, who’s born in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province has seldom looked like the real deal and at age 31 must make his move as sooner as possible. “He turns 32 in September which is certainly not old for a heavyweight and when you consider who had taken him over in the past and that he still wants to come home to me (Nick du Randt, Harold Volbrecht) I think it’s a laudable gesture and I’m willing to give it all I’ve got in order for him to succeed” said Tshabalala.

A professional since November 2000, Osborne won his first five bouts before drawing with Isaac Mahlangu and in 2002 he was knocked out by Anton Nel in the 10^th round of a brutal SA heavyweight fight. “He wasn’t ready for that fight but showed the heart and perseverance to become a champion” said Tshabalala. After winning four of his next fight, Machimane knocked out Nel in the 5^th for the heavyweight title on April 16, 2005, and despite several breaks intended for him to breaking into the overseas market, Tshabalala  generally felt that the Big Daddy still had to grow into the role as a SA champion before he’s realized his incredible potential.

Mind you SA title defences were nothing new to the wicked hitting Machimane, and in due time he accounted for Wiseman Dlomo (W TKO 7), Jake Els (W TKO 5), Piet Cronje (W KO 7), Corrie Sanders (W KO 1), Miyan Solomons (W TKO 5 & W 12) and Bull Muravha (W TKO 8). That Corrie Sanders (42-3) was a former two-time world champion can never be too glossed off, yet the totally focused Machimane punished him with two hefty punches before sending Sanders to the canvas where he was counted out at 2:41 minutes of the opening round.

Another Machimane loss that can be suitably refereed to was when he lost a close points decision to the big hitting Albert Sosnowski (37-1) who eventually became a plausible candidate for world heavyweight honours. The bout was held at in Gauteng.

Elias Tsabalala admits that Osborne is never that keen to go overseas but said that a lot of external pressure can be relieved by a closer working relationship with his fighter. “Look Osborne never seems a good traveller and he’s bouts in foreign countries have been disappointing to say the least. Indeed  besides losing to Living Castillo in New York, Mark Potter in United Kingdom,  Shane Cameron in New Zealand and Joseph Chingangu in Zambia, he seemed to lack that certain spark necessary for him to have had a fair chance of winning. It could be confidence yet that has never been a factor on home soil where’s he’s been a tremendous SA champion. If nothing else, I’d intend to give him that and then let’s see how the Big Daddy rolls,  “said Tshabalala.

In terms of Osborne’s credentials as a former national heavyweight champion, your writer has noted the most successful champions to date, and the amount of title defences in the years they held the title. This may surprise you!

Title Reign: JOHNNY SQUIRES: August 12, 1922-May 10, 1930: Number of title defences: (3)

Title Reign: JOHNNY ARTHUR: January 31, 1953-Undefeated heavyweight champion in 1957. Number of title defences. (5)

Title Reign: GAWIE DE KLERK: September 28, 1957- Undefeated heavyweight champion in 1962. Number of title defences: (7)

Title Reign: GERRIE DE BRUYN: May 2, 1966-June 6, 1969- Number of title defences: (5)

Title Reign: OSBORNE MACHIMANA: April 16, 2005-(Still the reigning champion) Number of title defences: (7)

Man-about-boxing Jeff Ellis was less in the mood to work out Mwelase’s strange reaction to what had been a routine request for a photo, than to throw his hands up and take his leave. “Actually I feel a bit sorry for Johnny du Plooy’s because now he’s getting to know how difficult it is to control a guy like Mwelase who I regard as a bit of a Coconut.”

Not that the enigmatic Du Plooy wasn’t difficult to handle during his reign as a box-office magnet during the 1970’s but Ellis made no mistake in calling Mwelase “The strangest character I’ve ever met in the game”.

Indeed not since Kallie Knoetze trumpeted his stuff during the seventies, has this country had such an unusual or eccentric character than the 28-year-old southpaw from Sowetan. Even Mwelase trainer, Johnny du Plooy was pained to apologise for his fighter’s action and for the umpteenth time used what has now become a standard apology for the 6’0” Mwelase, who is just over 2 inches taller than his vastly seasoned opponent.

“You guys know what he’s like” said Du Plooy, “and I’ve never tried to pretend Mwelase’s the most diligent trainer in the world. Mind you what he needs to know about his adversary (Ndou) he knows and I’ve no fear of predicting a knockout for Cyclone.”

With Harold Volbrecht and Lovemore Ndou dutifully fulfilling their television obligations, I found it interesting to notice that Volbrecht is unusually confident of his 39-year-old charge not only defending his IBO world welterweight title, but winning well. “There isn’t another boxer in this world at 39 who has such a limitless degree of fitness as Ndou” said Volbrecht. “And after Mwelase strong traditional sure in the earlier part of the fight, I wondered how he’ll handle Ndou? Especially once he starts getting tired”

“Look I’m glad we have both heavyweight prospects are on our bill for September 18, but they way things are going now, we’re soon going to have to alternate our fights in 2011, maybe the majority of them in Emperors Palace and the rest in the land of the dollar ” said Berman. “Johnny and Simba are just too good not to be cashing in on the hype”

Since both Muller (20) and Simba (21) are coached by Harold Volbrecht and managed by Brian Mitchell, it makes sense that the two fighters will soon be major drawcards in their own rights, but the great thing is that New York City are particularly begging to have their first look at the big fellows. “It says a lot about South Africa” said Berman, “that we are soon to provide the ‘big smoke’ with his first African heavyweights since Gerrie Coetzee and Corrie Sanders were in their prime”

Flo “The Demolition Man” Simba will be have his 7^th pro fight on September 18 when he takes on a Ghanaian named Paakwesi Ankrah, who comes to this country after being knocked out by the Africa heavyweight Joseph Chingangu in 2008 in the fifth round. “He can’t be that bad a fighter” said former SA middleweight champion Andre Thysse, “and I think Simba has to be careful”.

As for the rock-hard Muller, the West Coast’s most powerful punching heavyweight will be meeting Elvis Moyo, who remains the one man who went the distance with Flo Simba. “Moyo is a good fighter and he’s really got a fine jab and jolting right hand” said Manny Fernandez. “Strangely enough, these guys who frequent the gyms and teach themselves tricks and formulas, some times do all right. Moreover, don’t throw Moya away, he’s bigger than Muller and with the right preparation may be the second fighter ever to go the distance with both of our young tigers” concluded Fernandes.

There was also Jacob Matlala vs Hawk Makepula, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba vs Cassius Baloyi, Cassius Baloyi vs Mbulelo Botile and Buyani Bungu versus Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. All greats fights and it says something that the November extravaganza at Emperors Palace between IBO world super middleweight champion Isaac “The Golden Boy” Chilemba and Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen, is following a similar line, and may soon be sold out before fight time.

Oddly enough there is a fight awaiting us that could, be one of the 2011’s most alluring magnets and when duly considered, it looks like being a classic between southpaw and orthodox boxer. I speak of the 22-year-old Hekkie “The Hexecutioner” Budler (17-0, with 5 knockouts) and Gideon Buthelezi (10-2, with 4 knockouts).

Mind you, the multi-talented Buthelezi, who currently holds the IBO world minimum-weight title, will first need to win his September 18 meeting with the Philippines Juluis Alcos on the “CRUCH TIME” bill at Emperors Palace! According to Elias Tshabalala, the big hitting Buthelezi is up to the task and whereas it is a little soon to talk about Buthelezi facing Budler, the wily old mentor is already viewing 2011 speculatively. “If Hekkie wants a fight we will give him one” said Tshabalala.

A former amateur star, Budler was born on May 18, 1988 and following his vacant IBO world junior flyweight title meeting with the very experienced Juanito Rubillar of the Philippines, in which Hekkie won the title in February 27, 2010, the South African was stung by allegations that the decision had been unfair (though all judges marked the fight for Budler) and six months later, Budler beat the hard fighting southpaw in a return match.

Alas, though no brain-picker was needed, the Budler camp was satisfied with their win and went to Laredo, Texas for what would be the South Africa’s third title defence against ringwise veteran Mexican Evaristo Primeiro. In a close fight, the South African retained his title on points, but after a normally fast-paced bout that went down to the wire.

What of Gideon Buthelezi?

A southpaw, Buthelezi, was born on July 16, 1986 and turned pro in 2006. a good puncher with either hand, Buthelezi won the WBO African minimum-weight title in January 2010, en route to capturing IBO world minimum-weight honours on June 19 against the courageous Ronelle Ferreras. “Buthelezi is a natural talent and I’ve seen enough in him to believe that he could win another world title” said Tshabalala, “but just who’s title that is remains to be seen” he smiled.

As a IBO world welterweight champion Lovemore Ndou (45-11-2, with 31 knockouts) nattily-dressed Ndou looks more like a business man than a fighter who’s  unerring left hand have rattling him more wins than believe many believe myself. There is speed and youthful arrogance in young Mr Mwelase, and his southpaw jabs carries a long and probing hurt. Yes it’s the best weapon Mwelase has.

Yet not too much should be made of the unsullied scorecard that Mwelase carries around with him and it says here that that most difficult opponent that Cyclone has met will be the former two-time world champion Ndou he now looks to defeat. “I’m ready for him and although he’s bigger than me, I’m going to take this guy and whip him good” said Ndou. “Mind you some of the guys he’s been in there with, looked like a reluctant granddad who had neither the hands to fight or the brains to run”.

But Mwelase may just have the last laugh and I’m prepared to saw that the 6’0” southpaw wins the dancing ploy. I can only report that Mwelase has a mile-wide smile and though he sometimes holds his hands nearer his posterior than his chin, he isn’t that open for unguarded retribution.

So who wins? This fight is balanced on a needle end and though Mwelase favours punches that are better blocked or swiped, such novel gambits as right-handers of the wrong foot do not normally occupy us for the full 12-round permissible rounds.

Ndou must have a chance and I think the odds are fashioning in his favour. But I do fancy Bongani is a fair bet myself and I like six-to-four sounds feasible, which sound feasible!

Meanwhile Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman has predicted that the forthcoming “CRUNCH TIME” bill at Emperors Palace on February 18; in which Ndou defends his world title will electrify local fight lovers both as a spectacle and marketing event. “Boxing is all about entertainment” said Berman and in that sphere Ndou and Mwelase are two of the most loquacious athletes in the sport”.

“Certain fights register ‘bingo’ the minute they’re made and I’ve no doubt that this championship confrontation will bring out the best in both boxers” added Berman. “Moreover their fiery, ultra-confident personas could have a huge impact on the ultimate result of a match that looks like being one of those grimly fought encounters that goes down to the wire. Neither fighter is willing to contemplate defeat and experts agree that for once the ring at Emperors Palace will be shared by two of the most garrulous, colourful and at times outlandish South African pugilists of the past few decades.

Did I forget to mention talent?

South African-born Ndou is 38-years-old, and a two-time world champion at junior welterweight and welterweight. Based in Australia for over a decade, Ndou is now a qualified lawyer, which says much for his level of intelligence. Never stopped as a professional, Ndou’s dependable mandible has evoked considerable interest over the years, though everyone seems to agree that fine defensive skills had much to do with both the “Black Panther’s” longevity and extended ring record, which currently stands at  47-11-2, with 31 knockouts. At 173 cm, he is two-inches shorter than the 28-year-old Mwelase, who incidentally, fights out of the southpaw stance.

Indubitably the unbeaten Mwelase (14-0, with 12 knockouts) has bags of potential, yet his most outspoken critics point to the fact that he seldom enters the fray in tip-top condition which could prove to be the Sowetan’s downfall in a protracted war of attrition. Trained by former heavyweight contender Johnny du Plooy, the good-looking Mwelase is sure to attempt unsettling Ndou when the fighters meet eye-to-eye at Emperors Palace this coming Monday at noon.

Ndou’s South African trainer Harold “The Hammer” Volbrecht actually welcomes, the expected war of words. “They can both talk and then some but any thoughts Mwelase may have of upstaging Lovemore simply won’t happen. Besides those all-too-familiar tactics of intimidation only work if you’re fighting a boxer with limited self-confidence and everything I know about my boxer (Ndou) tells me he’ll thrive trading verbal punches with Mwelase”. Volbrecht concluded by saying, “On that score at least, bombast won’t mean a thing”