Thysse puts SA boxing back on map

PROMOTER STAGES TWO TOURNEYS

ANDRE Thysse is living proof that rewarding people for their excellent work will encourage them to go beyond the call of duty in future.

His contribution in an attempt to assist local boxing to reclaim its lost glory was recognised with Boxing SA’s promoter of the year award last month.

Now Thysse has announced that his Real Steel Promotion will stage two international tournaments four days apart – March 25 and 30. They will take place at Kempton Park Indoor Sports Arena.

The 47-year-old former SA and Commonwealth super middleweight champion said: “In Gauteng there are not many promoters like in the Eastern Cape to give action to many guys. The talent in our province does not get exposed the way it should and you cannot build stars under such circumstances.

“The outside world somehow forgets about SA boxers whereas our country used to be counted among the best around the globe in the production of world beaters.”

SA-based Congolese Patrick “The Hammer” Mukala will face Ghanaian Daniel Lartey for a vacant WBA PanAfrican super middleweight belt in the main bout on March 25.

Former Olympian Jackson “M3” Chauke is pencilled to face Sibusiso Twani for a Gauteng flyweight title. Thysse said this bout was subject to BSA which must relicense Twani.

”But I have a swinger bout between Marcus Lebogo against Jason Bedeman in the event Twani is not relicensed,” said Thysse, whose son Brandon Thysse – who was nominated for the prospect of the year award – Roarke Knapp, Cowan Ray and Emmanuel Kolombo will also be in action.

Then on March 30, Barend van Rooyen and Walter Dlamini will do battle for the vacant interim WBA Pan-African middleweight belt.