Johannesburg – With just over two weeks to go before the first major boxing tournament of the year in Gauteng, the excitement is building for what promises to be a great start to the boxing calendar for 2017.
The tournament, dubbed 'Thunder and Lightning', will take place on February 4 at Emperors Palace. Promoters Golden Gloves have put together an exciting five-fight bill, featuring some crowd favourites as well as a couple of talented prospects.
The bill features a world title fight, with local favourite Hekkie “The Hexecutioner” Budler taking on Joey Canoy from the Phillipines for the vacant IBO Jnr Flyweight Title.
Budler, the former IBO and WBA Minimum Weight World champion, has moved up a division since his defeat to Byron Rojas in March of last year. In his first outing since losing his titles, Budler had an easy points victory over Siyabonga Siyo and must fancy his chances of adding another belt to his already impressive collection.
Trainer Colin Nathan has had Budler in camp since early December and is happy with his charge. The ever improving Kevin Lerena will take on Namibian Vikapita Meroro in a fight scheduled for 10 rounds. Lerena is leaving nothing to chance for this fight as he clearly has his sights set on a lucrative overseas fight in the not too distant future.
Lerena, who won the Super 4 in October of last year, should not be troubled by Meroro, who has not fought since losing by KO to Russian Dmitry Kudryashov in May 2015. However, reports from the Namibian capital Windhoek, state that Meroro has been training hard and is of the opinion that a victory against Lerena will get his career back on track.
The smart money will be on Lerena, who hopefully will add another win to his career record of 16 wins against a single loss. Meroro will not have any time to get rid of the ring rust should he wish to pull off a shock victory against fighter who is always well prepared. In an international light heavyweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds, Ryno Liebenberg comes up against Enrico Koelling from Germany.
This is a rematch of their fight last year, the German taking that one by split points decision. Most people who watched the fight clearly feel that Liebenberg got robbed by way of a poor decision. Liebenberg, who likes to mix it, will in all probability not try and leave this one to the judges. The Highveld altitude could play a role in this fight.
Should Liebenberg sense that German is tiring, he will certainly go in for the stoppage in the later rounds. In a welterweight bout scheduled for eight rounds, young sensation and big hitting Thulani Mbenge takes on veteran Ntuthuko Memela.
Mbenge has to date had eight fights in the paid ranks. Not one of his opponents has been able to go the distance and it will be interesting to see how he fairs against a vastly more experienced Memela. In a light heavyweight fight scheduled for four rounds, Rowan Campbell takes on Fhulufhelo Ramaliba.
According to Jeff Ellis from promoters Golden Gloves, there has been tremendous interest in the tournament with ticket sales being being brisk. Limited seating is still available.