SA go into battle against British Empire

MARCH 2 will be a groundbreaking day for local boxing. That’s when South Africa take on Britain in the ring.

This is how Showpony’s Damien Michael describes his planned tournament.

The new kid on the boxing block, who, in November 2011 organised three WBF title fights without the help of television, said three top local fighters will be up against opponents of equal stature from Britain.

The South Africans are Chris “The Heat” van Heerden, Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu and Tshepang “The Gentleman” Mohale.

Britain will be represented by Matthew “Magic” Hatton (brother of former world champion Ricky), Hari Miles and Matty “Magic” Clarkson. The fights will place at Sandton Convention Centre.

“It will be South Africa versus Britain,” said Michael. “This will be one of the biggest fights in South Africa over the past decade.”

Van Heerden will bid for the second defence of his IBO welterweight title against Hatton, the former Commonwealth, European, IBF International and Intercontinental welterweight titlist from Manchester, while Mchunu, the WBA Pan African and African Boxing Union cruiserweight champion, will take on Miles, who is from Blackwood, Wales in a non-title bout.

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Mohale, the South African light-heavyweight champion, will be up against Clarkson, a rising star from Preston, Lancashire also in a non-title fights.

Van Heerden has 18 wins (10 KOs) while Hatton boasts 47 wins (17 KOs) from 51 fights.

Mchunu boasts nine KOs from 12 wins against a loss. Miles has seven wins and seven losses. Mohale has eight KOs from nine wins against five defeats while Clarkson has eight victories (1KO), a loss and two draws.

“In a move aimed at cannibalising from the rugby market, the evening will start with the likes of ex-Kiwi Super Star Carlos “The Jackal” Spencer against ex-Currie Cup prop Andries Human in a celebrity fight,” said Michael in his parting shot.