Berman: Burgeoning Mbenge destined for greatness
Anointing upstart Thulani Mbenge (right) as the boxer to emulate the great Harold Volbrecht as the best welterweight to emerge in the country might be a little early at this stage of his career.
But the hard-punching 25-year-old looks every bit the heir apparent to Volbrecht who blazed the trail for the country in one of the classic divisions.
Besides successfully defending his SA crown a record 19 times, Volbrecht went on to challenge for the world title twice although he fell short on both occasions.
Experts still lament the timing of his challenges, arguing that he got the opportunity when the division was at its hottest.
Firstly he fell within the distance to Pipino Cuevas in a WBA title bid, who would reign supreme as a champion until Thomas Hearns toppled him to usher in a new generation of welterweights that produced classic fights between Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran before middleweight Marvin Hagler joined them to give birth to what was to be later known as the “Fabulous Four”.
Volbrecht’s second world title setback came at the hands of Mark Breland with the same WBA crown at stake.
Despite missing out on a world title, Volbrecht left with his reputation intact.
Since then SA has produced boxers who tried to stake their claim on the world stage, with Isaac Hlatshwayo finally winning the IBF crown, but surrendering it in his first defence before transitioning from a paper champion to the real deal.
Now Mbenge has emerged and so far he looks destined for big things just when the welterweight division has regained its reputation even though Floyd Mayweather has retired.
It is not hard to understand why Mbenge is tipped to go far. With 10 knockouts in as many fights and SA and African Boxing Union belts, Mbenge looks set to stake the country’s claim among the likes of Manny Pacquiao (WBO), and Keith Thurman (WBA and WBC), Kell Brook who risks his IBF crown against Erroll Spence tomorrow.
Mbenge’s promoter, Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions, is enthusiastic about the future of the heavy-punching dreadlocked fighter.
“I know we tend to anoint boxers after just a couple of wins, but trust me when I say Mbenge is a special talent,” Berman said.
“He looks every bit a star in the making and bar a catastrophe, I think he will make some noise in the welterweight division.”
If there was ever a boxer who fits the description of a gentleman out of the ring but a giant inside it, it is Mbenge.
“Some of us have the gift of the gab while others have a gift of the jab. I guess I belong to the latter,” he says.
After blowing away Sean Ness inside the distance to take his SA welterweight belt only last month Mbenge is now set to test his power against a fellow unbeaten Filipino Jayar Inson on June 10 at Emperors Palace.
While Mbenge has knocked out every opponent opposite him, Inson has managed to halt nine of his 13 victims without a loss.
“We got this guy because of his high rating so that Mbenge can take his spot. But we do not expect him to lie down and hand his unbeaten record and rating on a silver platter,” said Berman.