Berman banks on SA’s new crop of fighters
‘We've good pugilists like Lerena, Thysse, Malajika’
While he bemoaned the current state of the sport in SA, boxing supremo Rodney Berman says he has hope in the emerging crop of fighters across the country.
Speaking to former heavyweight fighter, matchmaker, promoter and commission member Jeff Ellis, who is now Golden Gloves tournament coordinator, Berman said the impasse between promoters and Boxing SA did the sport no favours.
He was referring to the legal scuffle between sports minister Zizi Kodwa and the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association regarding Kodwa’s appointment of the board of Boxing SA.
Berman said thankfully, SA still has good fighters like interim WBC bridgerweight champ Kevin Lerena, IBO Youth junior middleweight holder Roarke Knapp, Brandon Thysse, SA and IBF Continental junior middleweight titlist Shervontaigh Koopman, IBF junior flyweight holder Sivenathi Nontshinga and IBO junior bantamweight champ Ricardo Malajika.
Berman said the junior-bantamweight division is strong with several South Africans – Malajika, SA and IBF International champion Phumelele Cafu, WBO Glopbal champ Sikho Nqothole – all ranked in the top 10 of the world organisations.
“I have high hopes for our crop of boxers,” he told Ellis. “I must also mention Beaven Sibanda, the ‘Flame of Zimbabwe’ whom I’m very high on.
He’s unbeaten in six fights . . . SA champ Siya Kuse wants nothing to do with him. Unfortunately, the higher weight divisions, from heavyweight down to supermiddleweight, are the weakest I’ve ever seen.”
Asked what keeps him up at night, challenges and frustrations, Berman said: “The biggest is operating out of South Africa with the rand/dollar exchange rate. The playing field isn’t remotely level. The benefit is that it forces you to innovate, for instance, I had a chat this week with boxing broker Adrian Ogun, a business partner of Lennox Lewis, about shifting into Africa.”
He was also asked about his thoughts on Saudi Arabia’s rapid rise as a hub for major international boxing.
“In certain ways it’s great, in others it’s taking away food from fighters’ mouths...” said Berman. “Having said that, they can put together mega-fights like Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk and that’s something not even the US can afford.
Berman likes Usyk – the Ukrainian WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight champion who will face WBC holder Fury from England in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
“He doesn’t have charisma, but he’s outstanding, really great. I’ll put my head on a block and say he beats Fury,” said Berman
Asked what inspires a veteran promoter like him who is chasing 50 years in boxing, Berman said: “I’m inspired by my endless search for a world-class heavyweight of colour. I’ve never been able to do that. I’d treasure that for the continent. And I won’t stop searching.”