‘Triple Treat’ springboard

Champions come and go and it is up to promoters to identify and source up and coming talent, but just as important to get the timing spot-on when it comes to the step-up in class.

Golden Gloves has gifted a handful of their rising stars a perfect platform to stake a claim for bigger things in their eight-fight “Triple Treat” tournament at Emperor’s Palace this evening.

The tall, rangy Shervantaigh Koopman (7-0-5 knockouts), under the tutelage of Vusi Mtolo at the RUB Gym in Edenvale, gets a shot at Simon Dladla’s South African junior-middleweight title.

Big-punching Free Stater Dladla (6-1–5 kos), wants to redeem himself after a confidence-shattering first round knockout by former sparring partner Rourke Knapp in December for the IBO Youth title.

Koopman (above), a boxer-fighter with a good all-round skillset, has to prove he’s intent on going places in this potentially risky outing.

In another national title matchup, unbeaten Cowin Ray (6-0-4 kos) also steps into the championship mix against Frank Rodrigues (7-3-4 kos) for the vacant SA super-middleweight belt.

There were probably some puzzled expressions when this fight was chalked-in considering Rodrigues started his professional journey as a heavyweight and has also campaigned at lightheavy and cruiserweight.

Trainer Alan Toweel insists that his charge – nicknamed “Tank” for his in-your-face style – who made an unsuccessful bid for Nicholas Radley’s light-heavyweight title in 2019, has now settled in his ideal weight class.

“He was brought down to his weight at a comfortable pace and didn’t crash down. He made the weight at least four months ago,” said Toweel.

Toweel will also be in the corner of heavyweight prospect Wilhelm “The Dragon” Nebe (50), who faces former SA title contender Joshua Pretorius (7-5-5 kos).

The fact that Nebe has so few rounds on his resume, is of little concern to Toweel.

“He has had plenty sparring with the likes of Chris Thompson and Akani Phuzi, so he’s been getting in the rounds. There has been a significant improvement in his technique, fitness, speed and defence,” said Toweel.

Boxing gets underway at 5pm and no spectators will be allowed under Covid-19 legislation.