Tantalising showdown for boxers

RODNEY Berman will today announce a tantalising showdown between Kevin “KO Kid” Lerena and Johnny “The Hurricane” Muller.

It is not clear what will be at stake between the two fighters but insiders confirmed that the fight is set to take place at Emperors Palace on November 15.

Golden Gloves Promotions fight publicist Brian Mitchell declined to shed more light on the potential thriller.

“Whatever Rodney announces has the potential to bring down Centre Court,” Mitchell said yesterday.

Lerena and Muller were not expected to face-off in the ring any time soon as they are both managed by Golden Gloves, but the demand from the boxing public was overwhelming and Berman decided to make the fight happen.

Whoever wins this showdown could go on to become a true South African boxing superstar in the mould of Mitchell and his one-time rival Dingaan Thobela.

Mitchell and Thobela missed the opportunity to face each other at the prime of their careers in the 1990s in what would have been the biggest fight to be staged in South Africa had it been allowed to happen.

Berman was also responsible for the careers of the two boxing icons and he elected to guide them in different career paths rather give in to the near hysterical demand from the public at the time.

Lerena, 22, won the WBC Silver belt two weeks ago when he blasted Georgian Gogita Gorgiladze in four rounds at Emperors Palace.

Muller, 23, is the reigning national light heavyweight champion.