Mchunu, Oosthuizen in repeat or revenge clash
ABU’s new panel of officials will need to up their game
Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu hopes that the three new judges who will officiate in his eagerly awaited rematch with Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen at Emperors Palace on December 8, will do justice to them as fighters and the sport of boxing.
They are veteran Simon Xamlashe from the East Rand, Michael Neeqwave of Ghana and Zambian John Shipanuka. They replaced Thabo Spampool, Francis Manning and Pumeza Zinakile (all SA) – who were in charge in the first fight in September.
Spampool and Manning scored that fight 77-75 while Zinakile declared it a draw at 76-76. The verdict which favoured Oosthuizen was met with lots of criticism as the general feeling was that Mchunu was robbed.
Promoter Rodney Berman negotiated with the two boxers and their trainers for a rematch and they all agreed to meet in the decider. The African Boxing Union whose title will be on the line then appointed the three new judges but retained Spampool as the referee.
The tournament in December has been dubbed “Repeat or Revenge”, and that has Mchunu worried.
“How can it be called repeat when I was robbed? I just want a fair decision whether I win or not but I’m going into the fight to win.”
Some people are saying Oosthuizen could be dangerous now that he would have had enough time to prepare unlike the last time when he had spent some time in jail for being in possession of drugs. “I expect the same person who was running. I took the fight to him. I set the pace for the fight. He was reacting to what I was doing,” said Mchunu.
Mchunu began his career under his father Alex Mchunu – a former professional boxer – who guided him to victory for the SA, WBA Pan African belts. Thabiso remained undefeated after nine fights before he teamed up with trainer Sean Smith who helped him win the ABU and NABF titles. In total Mchunu has 12 knockouts in 19 wins against five losses.