Volbrecht gets a chance ‘to beat’ Gamache

TRAINER Harold Volbrecht was denied a chance to mastermind the demise of Joey Gamache years ago but he gets a second crack later this month.

Gamache is now a trainer himself. He will be in the corner of Denmark’s Mickie Nielsen when he takes on Volbrecht’s 91kg brawler, Johnny Muller, at Emperors Palace on June 11.

The fight is part of promoter Rodney Berman’s multi-million rand Super Four cruiserweight series.

Volbrecht, Muller, Nielsen and Kevin Lerena, who will face Argentinian Roberto Bolonti in the other semifinal, met yesterday at the gym in north Johannesburg where Lerena trains. Bolonti is expected to arrive in the country this week.

Gamache, a former WBA lightweight champion, seems to have been following the career of Muller. He said he knew the 24year-old warrior from Roodepoort.

“That is why we accepted the invite to this championship. That is also why we are here,” he said.

Nielsen, undefeated in 21 fights, said he did not want to talk about the final that would take place on October. “I take one fight at a time.” Volbrecht, whose charge is coming off a 10th-round stoppage defeat by Lerena, said: “Johnny had problems before his bout with Lerena, but we have worked that off and he is looking sharp.”

Said Muller: “I want to make this opportunity mine, do my best to win the competition. Hopefully, Kevin beats Bolonti so that the final becomes a local affair and an opportunity to avenge my loss to him.”

Lerena’s trainer, Peter Smith, acknowledged the challenge facing his charge against a vastly experienced Bolonti.

But Smith has confidence in his charge who has lost only once in 15 professional fights – a points defeat to Muller last year.

“The more tough opponents Kevin fights, the better he will get. There are no easy fights but Kevin is coming to win,” said Smith.

The 23-year-old SA champion said: “Bolonti is indeed a mountain to climb but that is mission possible.”

The winner of the two semifinals bouts will meet in the final in October for a purse of about R1.6-million to be split 60-40.