Wayward Tommy Gun eyes salvation

TALENTED but wayward former IBO super-middleweight and undefeated light-heavyweight champion Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen will embark on a journey to redemption when he faces Igor Mikhalkin for a vacant IBO light-heavyweight belt in Hamburg tonight.

Arguably the most talented light-heavyweight fighter in South Africa, the 27-year-old lefthander will attempt to win back the title he lost outside the ring due to his wayward lifestyle of drinking and substance abuse, which saw him pull out of a WBA light-heavyweight bout against Jürgen Braehmer.

Oosthuizen and his trainer, Gert Strydom arrived in Hamburg on Saturday. The boxer is rated number 16 by the IBO and is undefeated after 29 bouts with 27 wins and two draws. His Germanbased Russian – who is rated 21 – is a left-hander like Oosthuizen. Mikhalkin, 31, has a loss in 20 fights with nine knockouts.

Oosthuizen is fresh from a third round knockout win of Tanzanian Said Mbelwa in Brakpan on April 28.

Strydom said they took that fight just to kill ring rust. Oosthuizen fought in August last year when he stopped Daniel Bruwer in the ninth round for a vacant WBA Pan-African belt in Boksburg.

Oosthuizen’s long layoff was actually caused by his wayward lifestyle. The boxer finally checked himself into a rehabilitation centre where he continued training until promoter Andre Thysse came with an offer to face Bruwer.

Strydom – who guided many boxers to world championships including Mzonke Fana against Cassius Baloyi for the IBF juniorlightweight belt in 2010 – described Mikhalkin as being a strong, come forward fighter.

“But he is not in Tommy’s league,” said Strydom.

“Tommy had wonderful sparring sessions with left-handed Thabiso Mchunu. We are ready to bring it home.”