Fighters with points to prove
OOSTHUIZEN: INACTIVITY WON’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE
‘Ring-rust doesn’t mean a thing. Glory will be mine’.
This weekend offers several boxers a chance to prove a point when they step into the ring at Emperors Palace for the “Top Guns” tournament. The headline bout sees former IBO super-middleweight champion Tommy Oosthuizen offered a chance at redemption when he makes a reappearance after a hiatus of a little more than a year when he moves up a division to take on Denis Grachev.
Oosthuizen lost his way through ill-discipline after a majority decision win over Ezequiel Maderna when defending his IBO crown in November last year.
The two will do battle for the WBC international light-heavyweight title in a fight that sees the Russian opponent look to improve on his last showing at the same venue.
“We’ve trained hard for this. We’ve really prepared and put everything in,” Oosthuizen – still unbeaten after 24 outings – said at yesterday’s pre-fight medical before adding that he doesn’t feel his inactivity will play a role in his performance.
“I think ring-rust is an excuse for fighters. It won’t be my excuse on Saturday night. It will come and glory will be mine,” Oosthuizen said.
Grachev, who fights out of San Diego, dropped a points decision to Ryno Liebenberg in August when battling for the same organisation’s secondary silver title.
“Tommy is a good fighter. He can box, but I’ve fought taller, bigger, stronger guys. I respect Tommy but as soon as I step over the ropes I must break him. This is it,” said Grachev, who has his skills honed by former heavyweight world champion Chris Byrd.
The main supporting bout will see Kevin Lerena and Johnny Muller square off in a non-title crusier-weight match scheduled for 10 rounds with both promising to make it an early night.
The other title fight on the cards sees wily campaigner Ali Funeka take a third crack at world title glory when he meets unbeaten Roman Balaev for the vacant IBO welterweight championship.
The card will be opened by the junior-flyweight encounter between Mbulelo Nxazonke and Thabang Ramagole.